evenstar lady is back, and hiatus-free from FF! *cheers* It's wonderful to see you all again. :D I shall begin writing today, and I just used an hour for this update to Demons. It's a lead-up chapter, the shortest yet to THE chapter 6, which I hope you will enjoy. :D I also hope you like this one short chapter, as well. I wanted to merge this with Chapter 6 but I didn't want too many things going on so this side chapter was split from it. :) And I will soon begin the writing on "To Win You Back". The work constraints have loosened up on me but I will be away on trips to reward myself ;) I'll try to get as much writing in as possible. Hope you will wait for me and enjoy the updates. :)

I love all the reviews from the previous chapter, they really kept me motivated so I updated this story first as a formal sort-of comeback. :) And Chapter 6, hopefully, will make its way to you soon. :D

Hope you enjoy. :) Keep spreading the ByaRuki love! :D

"Madam Aiko."

"Sorry… we are arranging the customer list and are a bit busy at the moment if you cou-

Rukia watched the heavily-pencilled brows shoot up in surprise.

"My dear Rukia!"

Rukia shifted nervously to her other foot as she stood before the counter. "Long time no see, Madam Aiko. I was wondering… if I could ask a favour of you."

"But my dear!" Madam Aiko stood up and walked out from behind the counter, ignoring her assistant who shot her an annoyed look at the sudden disruption to their work. She approached Rukia and gave her an uncharacteristic hug, as Rukia's eyes widened in surprise. "How have you been?"

"I… am good. How are you?"

"The usual… business." Madam Aiko smiled knowingly. "Gotta rake in my dough. Now what might bring you here, Rukia?"

"I… err…" Rukia had rehearsed a proper dialogue before she caught the bus to this district but at the moment she was at a loss for words. The familiarity of the foyer, that heavy perfume smell, the rich carpet, what she had found here… the person she met... the feelings...

"Is it about Byakuya-san?"

Rukia's violet eyes immediately locked onto Madam Aiko's black deep ones. It had been so long that she had not heard that name. It had been so long that he had whispered it into her ear in a sensual introduction, been so long that the name had escaped from her own throat in desperate pleas and moans of desire. So long that she had tried to pretend she had never heard of that name…. ever.

"He's been asking about you."

Rukia's eyes widened.

"I have already told him you were only here as a…" Madam Aiko grinned and Rukia blushed. "… one-time worker. But yet, each time he's here for services, he enquires if you are around."

Rukia felt her eyes widen. He asked about her… each time?

Something must have showed on Rukia's face because Madam Aiko's grin became wider. "And now, my dear, what request is this? Would you want to arrange another session?"

xXxXx

Byakuya stifled a yawn and sat up a little straighter in his executive chair. The meeting had barely begun and he was already tired. It looked like he would need to consume an inhumane amount of material food when he got home tonight to keep him going. Either that, or make a trip to the parlor again. Byakuya shuddered as he thought of that sexy, robust woman below him. He reached for the portable silver extension next to him and dialed a number.

"Miko, get me a cup of coffee."

xXxXx

Miko walked back to her desk situated in front of Byakuya's office suite, having just returned from the enormous meeting room where she had just presented the young executive with a hot cup of the finest St. Helena coffee. He had smiled at her, though briefly, and Miko had felt that fluttery feeling in her heart. Someday, she was so going to get her hands on Byakuya and as his personal assistant, there were so many opportunities. Miko had seized every attempt but somehow they didn't seem to move anywhere. She could tell that he had a curiosity in her, maybe even sexual (since he was a well-known playboy after all) but he did not seem to want to act on it. Miko was just going to have to push him over the edge. She was sexy, she reveled in her womanly attractiveness and now all she had to do was to get her young hot, rich employer to come to his senses. She wanted to be his hot woman, and was tired of having to deal with the daily trail of ugly females who made their way to his office, demanding commitment and-

Miko stopped.

'Here we go again.'

"What can I do for you?" Her voice was a sharp tone of irritation and possessiveness as she addressed the petite, short-haired girl now standing in front of her desk.

xXxXx

Rukia jumped as she heard the voice. She watched as the curvy woman with long brown hair walked past her to settle down at the secretary's desk.

"Err… I…" Rukia cleared her throat nervously. "I came here to return something to Mister... Kuchiki Byakuya." She hurriedly placed the envelope containing the unbelievable amount of money she had taken out from her account, on the secretary's table.

"And you are…?" The secretary gave her a disdainful look.

"I… Just an acquaintance."

The secretary frowned slightly and picked up the sealed envelope. "And what would this be? I regret to inform you this but Mister Kuchiki does not deal with requests for security fees or child support money."

Rukia's eyes widened. 'Child support money? This man is really…

"N-No. It's just something he borrowed me… which I have no use for."

The secretary raised her eyebrows. "Well then. Mister Kuchiki is a very busy person and does not deal with trivial matters like this very often. He's in a very important meeting now. If you would like to personally give it to him-

"NO!" The secretary's eyes widened as Rukia practically shouted at her. "I mean, leaving it here would be just fine with me! Thank you so much."

"Have a nice day," the woman replied in the same annoyed tone and turned back to the computer screen.

Rukia bowed and turned to walk back to the lifts. She observed the walls, rooms and people as she walked. Rukia had obtained the contact address from Madam Aiko easily, who claimed rights to advertisement of her parlor if the information ever led to a future wedding. Rukia had agreed, not caring as long as she obtained his location so she could return the money. And when she stepped out from the taxi outside his workplace, she had felt her mouth drop open in shock.

Kuchiki Byakuya. Acting director of the prestigious Azaris hotel chains.

Rukia pressed the 'down' button on the silver panel of the elevator.

He really was very rich and to hold power to such a great business empire. Rukia had felt so small as she had hurried through the beautiful foyer of the ground floor and taken the equally beautiful elevator up to the twenty-ninth floor, where his office was listed on. The money he had given to her would have been a laughable amount to him… but she had to return it. Yes, she had to return it.

The elevator arrived and Rukia walked in.

She did not want to owe this man anything.

Rukia's eyes hardened in resolution as the elevator doors closed before her.

xXxXx

Byakuya strode out of the meeting room and in the direction of his office suite. "Thank you for the coffee, Miko," he remarked offhandedly as he passed his secretary's desk. She had given him a most expectant smile that Byakuya felt the obligation to address the task of making him a drink which was entirely in her job scope.

"No problem, Mister Kuchiki." She batted her eyelashes flirtatiously. "Oh, a girl came in just now to return something to you, Mister Kuchiki."

Byakuya nearly sighed. It was impossible. Women with whom he had sexual encounters, whether those from the parlor or from chance encounters in pubs or on the streets usually had some aftermath drama to play in his office. He knew they only wanted him for the same thing he wanted from them. Sex, a fun night fling with a good-looking partner. No one was supposed to follow up on that. But when they found out he had a gold mine, they came lining up out the door from his office. In rare instances, he even got incessant ladies who came up to him with a pregnancy or heck, even a born toddler, to make paternity claims (ridiculously, when the encounter was just weeks old). Byakuya usually had his jealous secretary do away with the nuisance, suppressing the desire to tell these gold-diggers that demons and humans could not possibly procreate together, except in very rare moments during Sacred Exchanges. Children borne of demon-human parentage were a taboo in the demon world.

And given that he had never performed the Sacred Exchange before… except that one time.

Byakuya got ready to wave off his secretary when she remarked with a little laugh. "Funny little short thing she was."

"What?" Byakuya immediately bent forward and the secretary looked taken aback by his sudden reaction.

"What was her name?" Slowly, Byakuya's heart began pounding fast, almost as if it was natural.

"She did not say. She was really nervous and twitchy though, and nearly shouted at me when I asked her whether she would like to see you personally. Mister Kuchiki, are you-

"And?"

The secretary frowned. "W-Well, she said no, and left about ten minutes ago."

All the while, Byakuya was unrolling the string off the envelope. He opened it, took a look inside and immediately knew.

Rukia had come here.

Came to his office building.

Came to find him.

Without another word, he turned and walked hurriedly to the lifts.

"Mister Kuchiki!" He ignored his secretary behind him.

xXxXx

The elevator doors opened and Byakuya stepped out into the grand hall of his hotel business building. He quickly scanned the foyer with his alert eyes, trusting that he would be able to recognize the girl who had been haunting his thoughts and dreams almost every night. He looked at the office people in their suits milling up and down, staring at the young executive who rarely left his marvelous office suite during office hours.

No.

No sign of any girl like that.

No sign of Rukia.

She was gone.

Byakuya turned and took the next lift back up to his office. Ignoring his secretary yet another time, he entered his suite and picked up the receiver as he dialed a numerical combination into his office phone.

"I want all information on every female by the name of Ukitake Rukia by five this evening. Have them in printouts for each individual and place them on my office desk."

He replaced the receiver on its holder and sat back onto his seat, his heart still beating fast. What was he doing?

I was trying to forget you, was never going to do anything more. It's not like this now, Rukia.

You came to me first.

xXxXx

Rukia walked down the street, trying to inject some happy swing to her steps. She had returned his money, and now could really put everything behind her. It was a symbolic act, showing him she did not want to be in any way attached to him. But as she walked, she could feel a small part of her heart grow heavier with each step. What was wrong with her?

And why did he give her so much money? Was it because he pitied her, after watching her cry? Was it because he was… pleased? Rukia did not think so. She was nothing compared to the women-

'Stop it! Don't think about it!" Rukia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Yes, she should be happy. Rukia skipped a little down the street.

It really was all over and done with.

xXxXx

Byakuya reached out to his desk as his trusted men exited his office suite. The stack of papers was not thick, and held together with a silver paper clip. He looked at the yellow Post-it note stuck to the front cover.

Only a single Ukitake Rukia found.

Ignoring the way his heart was pounding erratically, Byakuya flipped to the next page.

Her beautiful picture smiled back at him.

Ukitake Rukia, twenty-one. Medical Sciences student, Nagoya University.

Lives with father, Ukitake Jushiro, fifty-five with home residence at 32, 2-1-1 Kamiosaki, Tokyo. Second residence in Nagoya University dorm at 5-1-2, Block E, Building 5 (one female roommate Neliel).

Owns florist shop Amor at 32, 2-1-1 Kamiosaki, Tokyo (over home residence).

Byakuya felt his face spread into an anticipating grin.

Ukitake Rukia…

…. I have found you.

And there you have it. Hope you like it... it's leading up, don't worry! :D Would love to thank all my readers who were waiting for Demons (and also 'To Win You Back')! Will try to update as soon as possible.

Please do review this chapter and let me know what you think (and motivate me some more)! :D :D

~evenstar lady~