Hello everyone. I'm back from my really adventurous Sydney tour. :p I just got back one day ago and started on this chapter because I had this idea sitting with me. :)
Hope you enjoy. And thank you so much for the reviews of the past chapter, even though I struggled writing it. :) Pope Benedict XVI, your review was especially spot on, because I struggled to write the torture room scene as well and I know it was awkward. Thanks for appreciating (and this goes out to everyone too), all the same. Will keep on practicing! :D
This chapter I dedicate to W. You will never read this, but I want to thank you for everything in my life right now. I hope we will have the fate to meet again after the long way around, and if we do... to finally complete the checkmate. I thank you.
Chapter 8, Demons. :) I haven't proofread this version, so do let me know if there are any typos, I will come back to correct them. :)
"Hey Rukia!"
Rukia smiled as she made her way over to her friends. "Where's Nel? And Ichigo?"
"Ohh… Nel's decided to stay behind in the dorms for some coursework today since she doesn't have classes. And Grimmy… as macho and manly as he may be, decided he would need to do his work next to her as well." Shinji snickered. "I wonder when he's got the guts he says he has, to confess."
Rukia laughed before her expression turned to one of horror. "He better not be sitting on my bed right now!"
The gang of friends laughed merrily together.
"And Kurosaki-kun is stuck in the computer labs, trying to work on some operating program," Orihime smiled in the direction of the white building.
"Oh." Rukia nodded.
'Maybe I can catch him for lunch,' she thought happily.
"So where do we head for munchies later? Maybe we ca-
"All students, please proceed to Field A. I repeat, all students please proceed to Field A."
Everyone looked up in surprise at the announcement from the loudspeakers on campus grounds.
"Field A? What's the matter?" Ishida pushed his glasses higher onto his nose.
"Who cares? We are gonna miss class!" Shinji gave Hiyori a high-five.
"Is it an emergency evacuation again, like the one we had last month?" Orihime was looking worried.
"Don't know. Let's go." Rukia led the way down the path to the fields as they joined the throngs of students now heading in the same direction.
As Rukia and her friends walked down the steps, a loud sound cut through the air.
Helicopter blades.
Everyone looked up as a black, sleek helicopter hovered low over their heads, whipping their hair and clothes in the powerful wind. The helicopter slowly descended on the landing cockpit in the middle of the field, the grass moving violently with the wind. The blades started to slow as the pilot killed the engine.
"Hey, look, all the VIPs are here!" Shinji nudged Rukia and pointed at the group of people standing at the podium on one side of the field. Rukia recognized Shiko Munakata-sensei, the head of Nagoya University, his two vice-chairs and three other high-ranking university officials.
She turned back to the helicopter, as the door slowly opened. What was all this?
The loudspeakers blared again "Good morning, students. Today, we are very proud to welcome visitors to our campus grounds. They are representatives…
Rukia's eyes widened as she immediately recognized the tall figure that emerged from the cockpit of the helicopter. Her heart froze in shock.
"… from the famous Azaris hotel chain, who have contributed significantly to the funding of the Science Research facilities here at Nagoya…"
No.
No, it can't be.
She watched with wide eyes as Byakuya stepped onto the grounds of Nagoya University. She watched him straighten his black office coat and shook his head slightly to clear the blowing strands of hair out of his eyes. Then he smiled as he headed towards the university administrator.
Rukia could not move, could not even say anything.
"Oh wow, dude's certainly some rich asshole," Shinji laughed. "Hey Rukia, you don't have to worry about your experiments stalling for lack of funds now!" He clapped a hand onto her shoulder. "Hey, you okay?"
Rukia nodded dumbly. She could hear dreamy sighs from all around her as the girls took in the handsome perfection now shaking hands with Munakata-sensei at the podium.
No. Why was he here?
"… Mister Kuchiki Byakuya here has recently donated an extremely generous amount of funding to our university and has expressed interest in a tour of the campus grounds. We hereby welcome him into our midst and hope he has an interesting morning."
The student body broke into applause.
Rukia's whole body was numb with shock and fear. She watched as Byakuya moved to the crowd of students to shake hands, all the while making small talk with the university administrator.
"L-Let's head off." Rukia's voice was small and panicky.
"Why Rukia? You need something?" Hiyori and Orihime were now looking at her in concern. Even Sado was leaning over slightly to look at her.
"No, it's nothing. But I have to get to the labs."
Shinji laughed. "Relax. You can't go anywhere anyway."
Rukia turned back and her heart sank. He was right. There was an immovable wall of students behind her. She was standing just at the edge of the stairs, but she could not move.
She watched as the entourage drew nearer and the crowd parted slightly for them.
"Wow, he's so young… and cute!"
"What's he doing here anyway? Ohh, I should have come onto the field sooner!"
Rukia's heart started pounding fast as Byakuya looked into the midst of the students as he shook hands, walking closer and closer.
And then… his eyes moved onto her.
Rukia's heart stopped.
Just a brief second, in which his grey orbs lingered on her wide violet ones.
And then the moment passed, and Byakuya continued looking into the crowd.
Rukia let out the breath she had been holding. He had pretended not to know her. But they were still walking in her direction, near enough now so Rukia could hear what they were conversing about.
"I wonder if I could get someone to take me on the tour today. I know Munakata-sensei must be very busy with work."
"Oh, it's no problem at all. I'd be happy to take you on the tour."
Byakuya smiled and shook his head slightly. "No, it's alright. I'd not trouble you. A university of this prestige must command a lot of commitments. I can settle for a tour by a guide or student, it would be less formal and more personalized."
Munakata smiled. "That sounds good as well."
Rukia's eyes widened as Byakuya scanned the crowd again.
Too near.
They were too near.
It was all too perfect. All too flawless. Even the timing was spot on.
Rukia tried to back away but there were so many students standing behind her. She watched as Byakuya stopped directly in front of her.
Oh no.
No no no.
She watched him lift his head in a perfect demonstration of curiosity and polite interest.
"Perhaps this student could take me for a trip."
Her eyes widened as Munakata-sensei smiled. "I know this girl. It's Ukitake Rukia, is it not?"
Rukia hastily bowed.
"I loved the science presentation you did the last two weeks. It was very well-done." Munakata smiled. "Well then, I entrust the care of Mister Kuchiki Byakuya to you then."
Byakuya smiled politely at Rukia.
"We will meet the both of you at the foot of the Peony Hill, how about that? Bring him there last to enjoy the campus view, Ukitake-san."
"H-Hai."
Munakata-sensei smiled and motioned with his hand to the footpath as Rukia stepped out from her shellshocked gang.
Byakuya bowed politely. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Ukitake-san…"
He straightened up, his grey eyes fixed on hers.
"… and I'm very sorry for the… trouble."
xXxXx
Rukia walked fast, without a word.
The footsteps thudded smartly behind her.
She could feel the back of her neck prickling.
"So where are we going, Ukitake-san?"
Rukia turned and looked back. Byakuya walked up next to her, smiling. "The labs," she countered hotly. "Aren't those the places you were really interested in, to have donated such a huge amount of money and have Munakata-sensei personally welcome you to Nagoya?"
"We both know why I'm here."
Rukia looked up, flustered and Byakuya smiled at her. "Do you mean to tell me… I have never crossed your mind in the few days you did not see me?"
He watched the beautiful spots of red bloom on her cheeks.
"I… Well, if you stopped messaging me, I would!" Rukia shouted angrily.
Byakuya chuckled.
"Don't raise your voice, Ukitake-san. People might think you are being… impolite."
Rukia hurriedly suppressed her anger before she exploded and made her way along the paths to the lab, ignoring him.
xXxXx
"And here… we have the Nagoya Science Research Laboratories." Rukia walked through the clear glass doors of her… sanctuary. Several students looked up from their work to stare quizzically between her and the tall, handsome stranger.
"Err… this is Mister Kuchiki Byakuya, representative of the Azaris Hotel, from whom a substantial grant has been moved to our laboratory."
Byakuya easily handled the greetings and appreciative thanks. Rukia rolled her eyes mentally and looked toward her workbench. She desperately wanted to get back to work, not being harassed by mysterious handsome men.
"Is this your workplace?" Rukia jumped slightly at the soft voice. Byakuya had moved up behind her.
"Y-Yes."
"What work do you do?"
Rukia looked up at Byakuya, who looked down at her easily. Rukia felt herself start to blush. "I do molecular biology like DNA and RNA isolates, protein work, histology and also immunostainings."
Byakuya nodded. "Are you running a gel later today?" He pointed to a fancy-looking tank on Rukia's bench.
'How did he know it was a protein gel tank?'
"I... Yes."
Byakuya smiled. "When you are transferring the proteins from the gel into the membrane, place all the buffers you will be using into the fridge an hour beforehand. It prevents the gel melting during the transfer because of overheating."
Rukia was rendered speechless as he exited the laboratory.
xXxXx
They walked silently along the footpath. Rukia had brought Byakuya almost everywhere: to the sports facility, the art halls, the engineering faculty, the music chambers, some classrooms, even the cafeteria. She had avoided conversation with him but he appeared to be just as happy to remain silent.
And yet Rukia had so many nagging questions to ask, all of which could only be answered by the tall man walking next to her.
"Is something wrong?" The deep voice jolted her yet again. "You look like you are in need… of something." Byakuya spoke, his grey eyes unreadable.
"I…" Rukia took a deep breath. "How do you know… so much?"
Byakuya let out a very soft chuckle and Rukia looked up. "Perhaps you could be a little more specific." His grey eyes twinkled at her and Rukia felt her cheeks grow warm.
"How do you know all those things… about research? You are a business executive!"
"Do you believe me if I said I have a PhD in Biomedical Sciences?"
Rukia's eyes widened. "And you decided to go into hotel business? And then, you seem to know so much about art and every field back there as well."
Byakuya laughed. "I also have a Master's Degree in both Art and Visual Art. Are you impressed?"
Rukia looked down at the question. Truth was, she was impressed… a little. Byakuya had made effortless conversation with all the students in every faculty building they went to. He spoke with the engineering students, used foreign terms Rukia had never heard before with the arts students, and even corrected a horribly complex mathematical calculation in one of the classes.
He was… impossible.
"It's impossible. You don't have that much time."
Byakuya smiled at Rukia as if they were sharing a private joke. "Believe me, I have all the time in the world."
xXxXx
"You have a lot of peonies growing here. Is it symbolic of your institution?"
Rukia looked to her left. Byakuya was staring at the red and pink flowers that lined the side of the walkway with mild curiosity. She looked at him for a while and after noticing that he seemed to be genuinely interested as he looked at the ornamental plants, she walked up next to him. Both of them stared down at the pretty flowers.
"It is not symbolic of Nagoya but it is an interesting feature here in our university, having been grown… almost as long as I can remember. When the first founders of Nagoya University set root here, there were already peony plants growing wild in this area. They just decided to preserve these native plants, and pulled out the roots of the weeds growing around these flowers."
"I see. They are very pretty."
Almost in spite of herself, Rukia found herself nodding. "They are. And we are very lucky to get a whole variant of peony flowers here. The red, pink, gold and white variants." Her face slowly curved into a smile as she stared fondly at the flowers. "And then… of course there is the fabled blue peony."
Byakuya looked up. Rukia realized then that she had been too immersed in her love for the flowers that she forgot she was supposed to be cold and hostile to him. Instead, she was almost talking to him in a conversational manner.
"Blue?"
"Y-Yes. It is a legend that the blue peony blooms amongst its more common counterparts once in a hundred years. It is said to be the most beautiful flower in the world, and brings good luck to anyone who ever sees it."
"Have you seen it before?"
"No. I have seen fake ones before, in which they dye the petals blue. But there are features of the real blue peony from people who have claimed to see them. They are said to have purplish edges on the petals and a very white center. I have yet to see one but I doubt they exist anyway." Rukia shrugged as a faint wistful smile curved her lips again.
"Maybe we can find a blue peony growing here somewhere." Byakuya looked at the bushes. Rukia trudged on, ignoring him.
"Rukia."
She turned back at the deep voice. It was so different and novel, the way he called her in that casual tone. Like they were friends… or just normal acquaintances.
"Don't you want to look for a blue peony? You seem to like it." Byakuya smiled at her. Rukia immediately dropped her gaze.
"Impossible! There is no blue peony. It is just a legend." She turned to walk ahead.
"Nothing is impossible in my world."
Rukia turned back as Byakuya straightened up. She could hear the confidence and truthful simplicity in the bold statement. And yet… it was impossible. Everything about this man was impossible.
"What would you be willing to give me in return, for what I can show you?"
Rukia looked up in surprise as Byakuya trained his misty grey eyes on her. She felt her cheeks turn red upon his intense gaze.
"I… Stop talking nonsense. Hurry up. This is the last spot, and Munakata–sensei will be waiting for you at the foot of the hill."
Rukia turned back and trudged up the footpath as Byakuya swept wordlessly after her.
xXxXx
"And this is the last spot of Nagoya University. It is a fabled spot for years, associated with the Lover's peony plants. This pavilion…" Rukia looked up, unable to suppress a fond smile as she looked up at the small roofed porch they were currently standing in. Ichigo had taken her here once when her Otousan was in the hospital to pray for good luck.
This pavilion was also nicknamed the 'Love Nest' of Nagoya University. Most of the time, Rukia avoided this hill because it was a hunting spot for lovers to make out and perform other passionate acts. Ichigo had taken her here to pray because she had been devastated then and he told her that the peony plants were said to bring good luck. Nothing romantic had taken place between them here but it always gave Rukia a warm feeling that Ichigo had taken her up here.
"So what is this hill famous for?"
The deep voice jolted Rukia out of her reverie. Byakuya was now standing directly in front of her. She was not going to tell him the real representation of this hill.
"It has a great view."
"Does it?" Byakuya took a step towards Rukia and she backed away. "I have to agree," he spoke quietly, his eyes never leaving her face.
Rukia felt her cheeks heat up. She started to turn away to look out from the hilltop. "If you look properly," she spoke coldly.
"You said it was associated with the Lover's peony plants. Why the word 'Lover' at the front?" His voice was smooth.
"It is just a name," Rukia replied hastily.
"Is it?" Byakuya's questioning reply made Rukia turn back to him. "Or is it because it took the name from the legend that there was a couple who frequented this hill so many years ago? That the woman had an endearing love of peonies and so her husband planted them so she would never be out of reach of her favourite flowers? And that he went off to war and so leaving her to await his return at this very pavilion everyday for decades? And that he was lost at war but finally returned at the age of seventy to find that his love had not wavered from this pavilion all these times and that they breathed their last together amongst the peonies?"
Rukia's eyes widened as the full details of the Peony Hill legend made their way out of Byakuya's mouth.
"S-Since you already know, why do you ask?"
"Because you hide so many things from me, that's why."
Rukia looked up in surprise as Byakuya continued. "You had a wistful smile on your face just minutes ago. He apparently brought you here before."
"S-So what if he did?" Rukia blurted out as Byakuya took another step towards her. "It's none of your business."
She gasped as she saw something shoot towards her. Rukia stepped back in reflex, only to have her back hit one of the stone pillars of the pavillion.
She looked fearfully at Byakuya, who was now directly in front of her and having his arms planted on either side of Rukia as she stiffened up against the pillar.
"What do you want?" She tried to keep her voice calm.
"You said he brought you here and that it is none of my business. I agree, it is not." Byakuya smiled at Rukia. "I will just have to pull up those memories by their roots, exactly like how they do it with the weeds amongst the peonies."
"Leave me alone!" Rukia shouted fiercely.
"No."
Rukia's eyes widened at the deep voice. It was almost a command.
"I have waited a near month to come close to you like this." Byakuya leaned in close to a flustered Rukia. "I didn't touch, I just waited. I went about my daily life, waiting. And I have to admit, I have become… restless."
"S-Stop it." Rukia knew it was no use but she lifted her hands and pressed it against Byakuya's chest, trying to push him off.
It was to no avail.
"I should, shouldn't I?" The deep voice spoke, his breath hot against her face. Rukia's heart was pounding so fast and loud she wondered if he could hear it. His arms moved to her waist as Rukia's eyes widened. "I really should stop."
His voice.
It was so conflicted. It was the very first time she had heard his voice like this, other than the night they had been intimate with each other when his voice broke raw and desirous. This time, it was bitter and yet... wanting. It made something move within Rukia.
And then he spoke again, "But… I can't help…"
Byakuya bent his head downwards.
… myself."
And after three weeks, six days and eighteen hours of longing for the one same girl, Kuchiki Byakuya pressed his lips to Rukia's in a desperate kiss of desire and lust.
xXxXx
The touch of those warm lips. Rukia could clearly recall their softness and yet firmness, as they pressed against hers. She felt all those feelings come rushing back to her… the warmth eventually giving way to wondrous heat, the softness to passionate rush, the tentativeness to desirous fire.
She felt his lips press harder against hers, hot and possessive. Rukia felt everything in her brain fade away, she couldn't think. She could only feel the warmth of his lips, the firmness of his hands upon her waist pulling her to him, smell the scent of the peonies. Her small hands unconsciously clenched into fists at his chest, as she felt all the familiar feelings wash through her.
Warm hands touched her face before gently tilting it up, as his lips pressed more insistently against hers. She felt her own lips start to part, wanting… somehow wanting so much… the warmth…
No!
Rukia jammed her lips tight before she succumbed to the forbidden desire.
She heard that deep chuckle in her ear, and the tingles it sent through her body were the same as they were so many nights before.
Before she could realize what was happening, Byakuya trailed his lips from her resisting ones down her neck. She tried to move away but his strong arms held her in a tight grip. Rukia closed her eyes and tried to block out the feel of his lips coasting over her skin now as he kissed the sensitive spot on her neck.
Please…
Her hands clenched on his shirt as he pushed her further against the pillar.
Please…
She gasped as she felt his warm tongue slide out onto her skin, felt his teeth gently scrape her neck in a playful nibble. Her knees were already weak, and it was his strong hands holding her to him which were keeping her upright. She felt her breaths coming out ragged from her mouth.
Byakuya must have sensed it as well. The next thing she heard was another deep chuckle and he moved expertly back to her face.
She was unprepared.
Her mouth was parted slightly in surprise and to allow her to catch her breath. He chanced upon the opening, and his tongue swept past her lips into her mouth.
Byakuya almost groaned as he tasted her sweetness once again after so long. It was worth everything he had gone through. Worth the hours of wait, worth the amount of money he had donated to Nagoya University through the phone call on the day of the Ishikawa clan assault, worth the time he was wasting here instead of being in business meetings. He teased her tongue slightly and heard a small moan escape from her throat. She had been eating something of a peppermint flavour, he could taste them faintly in her mouth. He moved his tongue through her mouth sensually, and this time a pleasured groan erupted from his own mouth.
Byakuya could not help himself. Could not help himself at all.
He had to touch her, kiss her, taste her… as much as he could. He could feel her human energy pounding in a frenzy, but he could not have cared less about siphoning his food supply off her. All he cared about was… her.
He wanted her.
And as he had her trapped against the pillar. Byakuya had a hard time controlling his desire to take her right there on the hilltop. And so he satiated himself with as much of her as he could, kissed every spot he could reach, taste every length of skin he could taste. He could feel her trembling against him, and yet her body was pressing hard into his, and he knew he was giving to her what her body was showing him she needed.
Her skin was as velvety soft as before, and tasted so sweet to him. Did they not say men tire off women fast? Byakuya was definitely one to attest to that saying, having been with countless women in his six hundred years of life. But this was so different. The more he got out of her, the more he wanted from her. She was like a drug, an aphrodisiac. She fueled him more, made him helpless to his desires. He needed to be close to her, to see her, to touch her.
He could not help himself.
xXxXx
Rukia's back pressed against the hard, cold pillar as the handsome man pressed even closer to her. She was breathing hard, as she tried to resist Byakuya's touch and kisses. She also knew she was failing with each passing second. She had to push him off, and put some distance between both of them. That was her only way out, before she lost to him once again. But yet, her body refused to obey her brain as the feelings from their closeness washed over her senses like fresh rain on a desert.
Her hands were on his shirt-clad chest but they did not seem to be pushing him away. Instead, they were tentative, jerking whenever he made a sudden move, and clenching on his shirt everytime she felt her heart skip a beat.
His mouth was hot on hers now, as his tongue delved along the crevices in her mouth. Rukia could not stop the moan that escaped from her mouth into his.
"Tell me what you want, Rukia…"
Rukia's eyes shot open, meeting the deep grey eyes. He trailed his lips across to the pulse point on her neck. She gasped as his warm tongue slid out onto her skin.
"Tell me what both of us want…"
He claimed her lips fiercely once again as his mouth moved against hers in an erotic request.
"Tell me."
Rukia could not think. But feel she did… and she knew what she wanted…
Her mouth parted…
Her eyes flew open and she jerked away from Byakuya. Startled, his hands loosened around her and Rukia immediately pushed against him. She brought her hand down and the sharp sound of hand against cheek rang clear in the pavilion.
Rukia had slapped Byakuya. Slapped him right across the face.
She lowered her hand, panting hard and her heart pounding. "S-Stop it."
Byakuya quietly turned to her and Rukia mentally flinched from his gaze. However, there was no anger in the depths of grey that burned into her.
He was… unreadable.
Then he opened his mouth. "You really are a hypocrite."
Rukia's eyes flashed in anger, in spite of her fear and nervousness. "I am not."
"You are. You tell me so fiercely to go away, to leave you alone. And yet your eyes pull me right back, telling me you want me to stay, telling me you… want me."
"I d-don't!"
"You don't? Then I must have read you wrongly, the first wrong in the six hundred years of my life."
Rukia's eyes widened. These things he said… said it so casually… so honestly… almost as if he was telling the truth. Almost as if he could lead her to believe that he had actually lived for hundreds of years… that he was inexplicably drawn to her…
Rukia shook herself from her thoughts as she heard yet another deep laugh.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Rukia bristled. "I am afraid this is the end of the tour, Mister Kuchiki." She tried to calm her breathing as he stared back at her coolly, his appearance so flawless and unperturbed in contrast to her flustered and messed up state, despite them both engaging in the fierce moment.
"Are you afraid of me?"
Rukia looked up in surprise at the question.
"No."
Byakuya smiled. "No, that didn't come out right. Let me rephrase it again. Are you afraid… because you are starting to fall in love with me?"
The violet eyes widened even more but the grey eyes never wavered from them.
Rukia felt everything blank out in her head, in her body. All that was left was the question resounding everywhere, in every direction.
Are you afraid… because you are starting to fall in love with me?
He wouldn't let his eyes leave her. He wouldn't leave her. And she couldn't look away, couldn't hide herself away. What is happening? What is this I am feeling?
Rukia didn't know. She was so scared, so fearful, so… uncertain. Who is this man? What does he want? And what is this he is doing to me?
She really didn't know.
Are you afraid… because you are starting to fall in love with me?
I don't know.
Byakuya watched as the emotional conflicts pooled into those purple eyes, making them more alive and beautiful than he had ever seen them.
And then he watched as their even more beautiful owner turned on her heels and dashed down the hilltop steps.
xXxXx
Run.
Just run.
Run as far away from him and never look back.
Then he will leave you alone.
And then there it was. That heavy, sinking feeling in her heart at that very thought.
'Rukia, what is wrong with you?'
Rukia put her hand to her head as she ran down the steps, trying not to go so fast so she would not lose her balance and fall. She had to get away from him. She dashed down the steps as all the emotional turmoil swept through her mind and body.
'Am I… really… a hypocrite?'
xXxXx
"There she is!" Rukia jumped at the loud voice of the university administrator. "Ukitake Rukia, where have you been?"
Rukia's eyes widened as she grounded to a halt in front of the group. How was she going to explani-
Her eyes widened.
"Arigato, Ukitake-san."
No.
Impossible.
Byakuya smiled at her, his eyes unreadable and his expression clear.
How could he get here ahead of her? There were only two ways up the hill, one from which she had escaped on, and the other which led to the back of the hill and was closed off from students. Rukia did not know much about that route, never having taken it before.
But still… he had stood there and watched her run away. And yet, here he was, ahead of her and breathing normally, without any hint of tiredness that he had made his way down in a hurry.
The other route must be a very speedy one.
Rukia started when she heard the administrator's voice.
"Kuchiki-san was just telling us about the wonderful walk you both had up there." Rukia felt her cheeks grow hot. "He said you even took the time out to point out the native plants and even the legends."
"Err… I-
"Ukitake-san, I'm very proud of you."
"Ahh…" Rukia bowed hurriedly.
"Well then, I have to head off to a business meeting in thirty minutes. Thank you for having me here, Munakata-sensei."
"It was our absolute pleasure to have you here as well. Do drop by when you can. And thank you for the contribution."
"It was my pleasure as well."
Rukia curbed the desire to jump away as Byakuya turned to her. "Thank you very much for being my guide, Ukitake-san. It was a real… pleasure walking with you." His deep voice lingered on the particular word, just a little longer for Rukia's benefit, but short enough to appear normal to nonchalant outsiders. "How could I thank you for today?"
By never seeing me again.
"But maybe I can." Rukia looked up as Byakuya reached into his coat and produced a long white box. "I got this ready for the student who would accompany me on today's trip actually. And she happens to be you, Ukitake-san." Byakuya smiled and extended the box to her.
Rukia hesitated but knew she could do nothing in the presence of others. "A-Arigato." She bowed and hurriedly accepted the box, careful not to touch his hand.
Byakuya smiled at her and then turned, following the administrator down the walkway to the exit, leaving her there.
xXxXx
Rukia stood there and watched Byakuya disappear off around the corner before dropping her eyes to the white box in her hands.
A present? For the student who would accompany him on today's trip?
Such flawless lies, as usual.
With trembling fingers, Rukia lifted the cover on the box. Her eyes widened again as she gasped in wonder.
The blue petals, with the faint purple tinge at the edges.
The white center, almost glinting silver in the sunlight.
The fresh floral smell.
A single blue peony, nestled in the soft white tissue paper.
Impossible! There is no blue peony. It is just a legend.
Rukia lifted her hand and touched her fingertips to the soft petals of the flower, as she softly gasped again in wonder. It was real, it was a real blue peony.
Nothing is impossible in my world.
Rukia looked up, at the spot where she last saw Byakuya disappear around the corner, as wonder slowly began to take over the apprehension in her heart.
What would you be willing to give me in return, for what I can show you?
xXxXx
And that's it for this chapter... I hope you enjoyed it. :D
I got the inspiration for this chapter using peonies because I recently visited the beautiful Chinese Gardens in Sydney (just two days ago actually :D). They grow peonies there, which are said to be the emperor's favourite flowers (and coincidentally, one of mine :D). Peonies are one of the longest-used ornamental flowers in Chinese history, in paintings, poems and of course, as a flower plant itself. :) In Japan, it is also one of the widely used floral symbols, alongside the sakura (cherry blossom).
Here, I would like to point out there is no legend of the blue peony, it was something I thought up, because I realized I cannot find the blue variant of this species (either it does not exist or it is very rare) so there you have it, another evenstar lady legend. XD XD
I hoped you like this chapter, it is yet another progression of the ByaRuki relationship as the devilish, multi-talented Byakuya makes his way closer to Rukia, much to her confusion and dismay as she struggles with her feelings. Lol, hope it did satisfy your ByaRuki craving. :D
I'm trying out a lot of new things here in Demons, with the fighting scenes and different takes on the romantic moments. :)
Do please review this chapter and tell me what you think, comments to make, feedback and also to motivate me to write even more! :D
~evenstar lady~