Hey there! It's evenstar lady back with a *whoo* Demons update! :D It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm currently on holidays so I thought to draw up a chapter for this fic because of the many reviews that pop up requesting an update! I thank you all so much! :)
I'm still reeling from the completion of 'To Win You Back', it's really surreal to finish sharing a story with you all over a year... and with all these reviews and PMs, it's really beautiful! I thank you all again.
Now I wrote this chapter out pretty long. Really, really long actually... it's going to be hard to digest with everything happening but hey, it's been a while right? :D I wanted to cut it into two parts but I finally went with having it in one chapter altogether.
Hope you all enjoy, Chapter 9. :)
WARNING: The initial warnings which came with the start of Demons. Perceived OOC-ness of characters due to an AU setting.
Rukia walked through the hallway of the university, swimming in her disarrayed thoughts. Her left hand clutched the long white box, where a botanical specimen of impossible fairy tales and mystery now lay.
"What would you be willing to give me in return, for what I can show you?"
Who is this man? How can he be so… impossible?
It had to be some stupid show he was putting on, like an impressive card trick where you watched with bated breath as the King of Spades disappeared, when it was all along behind the so-called magician's hand. Rukia shook her head slightly. That was it. He was just a troublesome womanizing pervert.
But what bothered her was the way her heart was starting to leap and miss the usual beats whenever he was near.
xXxXx
"HEY RUKIA!"
Rukia almost jumped out of her skin at the loud voice. She turned around and saw Shinji and her group of friends waving at her, all sitting at a long table. Too engrossed in her thoughts, Rukia had walked right past the cafeteria, where she originally intended to head to.
Rukia hurried to her friends, sliding into a vacant spot next to Orihime. "Sorry, I'm late."
"We can see that," Shinji chuckled.
"Don't worry about it, Ukitake-san. We got you your lunch anyway, the line is cut-throat at the moment." Orihime gave Rukia a smile and pushed a plastic box of assorted sushi towards her.
"Arigato, Inoue." Rukia gratefully opened the box and took up a sushi. She hadn't realized that she was terribly hungry.
"What happened back there? You were acting so strange at the field, and then you were suddenly selected to be a personal tour guide! We were all shocked!" Hiyori exclaimed as she looked at Rukia.
"I-
Shinji clicked his fingers. "That's because she was hit by an epiphany then! She received an otherworldly manifestation of a rich asshole who wanted her to show him around!" Shinji cackled. "So oh-divine-Rukia, which of my first crushes am I marrying in future?"
He was answered by a punch in the face by Hiyori.
"You know, you might permanently deform my face someday, and that is going on your conscience." Shinji nursed his pitiful nose.
Hiyori ignored him and turned to Rukia. "But seriously… you okay?"
Rukia nodded weakly before her eyes widened at the figure which had approached the table. "Ichigo!"
"Hey." Ichigo smiled and moved into the seat across from her. "I missed you this morning. Computer class torture." He made a distasteful face and offered her a plastic bottle. "Juice?"
Rukia felt her cheeks warm up. Sure, those words meant he had missed her as in being unable to see her but she couldn't stop herself from thinking of the other, more romantic reason. "Thanks. Yeah. Me too."
Ichigo smiled before his expression grew serious. "I heard about the tour guide episode this morning though, wished I had been there. Hope you weren't freaked out."
"Then again…" Hiyori suddenly stared so hard at Rukia she felt uncomfortable. "You don't know the guy, do you?"
Rukia's eyes widened, as her heart pounded fast. She looked up and saw Ichigo looking curiously at her. Rukia hurriedly pulled herself together. "N-No, of course not. What made you think that?"
"She's just jealous that you got singled out by some rich, handsome heir," Shinji retorted and expertly dodged a potential hit.
"But you know…" Orihime cocked her head to one side and smiled. "That Kuchiki Byakuya is currently the hot news on our campus. All the girls are now practically daydreaming about him and hoping he would come back for a second tour."
Rukia shifted in her seat uncomfortably. She had been waylaid by excited students on the way back from the foot of Peony Hill, with their gushings of congratulations and 'I wish I were you!'. Rukia had ducked them all and told the curious girls that Mister Kuchiki was "real formal throughout the trip", all the while fighting the heat in her cheeks. Indeed, this man had kicked up a storm in the university campus by just one appearance.
"So, how was he anyway?" Hiyori leaned in closer, ignoring the 'Ah-ha!' from Shinji.
"I… He was just really formal to me."
"He must have been really stuck-up, all that cash loaded…" Shinji took a bite of his apple, his expression disgruntled.
Rukia laughed weakly, as her mobile beeped. She reached into her bag and flipped it open. "Excuse me."
Rukia stared at the screen, before her violet eyes widened.
I'm back in the office. Can I come see you this evening after class? No choppers this time, just a plain old Porsche.
-Byakuya-
Rukia looked up apprehensively, almost expecting someone to jump on her apparent unease and nervousness and somehow put the two and two together and realized she had something much more deeper and terrible to share with the hotel heir. However, none of her friends were paying attention to her. Ichigo was chatting to Shinji about the newest video game in stores, with Ishida and Chad listening in. Orihime and Hiyori were caught up in a discussion about the classes next semester.
Rukia looked down at her mobile and keyed in the words.
No. Please leave me alone. I mean it.
Rukia looked up at her friends, as they smiled and chattered amongst her. They can never know.
No one can ever know.
xXxXx
"And that concludes the meeting. I thank you all for the participation… and good luck on your coming projects." Byakuya nodded at his staff members and they rose and bowed to him, before going through the wooden oak panel doors that his secretary was holding open. When the last executive had been dismissed, Byakuya relaxed his posture and laid back into his comfortable chair, closing his eyes.
"Mister Kuchiki?" He opened his eyes slightly to see his flirtatious secretary smiling at him. Her skirt was way above the normal hem, as usual. "I wondered if I could get you… something. You look awfully tired."
He wished she wouldn't use that sultry tone, it was getting annoying. "That's alright." Byakuya put his hand into his coat pocket.
"It must have been the trip you made to that research center at the campus in town. You could have just sent one or two of the boys down for such a trivial matter, instead of making the trip yourself."
"It was very important, Miko," Byakuya spoke firmly and her expression faltered. "I will be out in fifteen minutes, I need to take a few calls."
Recognizing the dismiss order, she bowed, hiding her dissatisfaction. "Of course."
As the wooden doors shut behind the woman, Byakuya turned to his mobile phone, which he had lifted out of his pocket. He switched to the first message in his inbox and looked at the words, for perhaps the fifteenth time since he had received it.
No. Please leave me alone. I mean it.
Byakuya felt his face curve into a teasing smile. He remembered the uncomfortable girl next to him as she led him through the learning centers just hours ago. Byakuya hadn't wasted any second of it. He had observed her thoroughly throughout the mini tour. She walked confident, despite her overwhelming discomfort at his presence. Many students had greeted her as they passed by, so she must be well-known and sociable in the university. And yet she was so cold and hostile to him, her retorts nothing short of sharp sarcasm. Her poise, her words, her personality. It made so many things stir within Byakuya.
And he remembered the Peony Hill.
Byakuya lifted his hand and ran them across his lips slowly, tracing the places where her lips had touched his. They still tingled from her contact, and the warmth and sweetness was fresh in his mind… as she moved, as she responded to his kiss, to him. Byakuya felt the heat erupt into fierce flames in his body.
Leave you alone, Rukia?
Never… not when you might actually be the one thing I have waited for all this time.
xXxXx
Rukia walked nervously behind her friends as they chattered merrily in front. Her big violet eyes scanned the campus grounds, darting left and then right.
"Hey Rukia! Are you okay?" Rukia jumped again at the voice and hurriedly smiled.
"Y-Yeah."
"You seem really spaced out and strange today," Hiyori replied, narrowing her eyes at her friend before Shinji engaged her in conversation.
It was after class and the orange evening rays of the sun were slowly setting in the sky as they walked out of campus. Byakuya never replied her message and even though she should be thankful, Rukia was still apprehensive that she might see him waiting somewhere for her, as he had proposed to in his phone message… in full view for everybody to see.
No, the streets seemed to be deserted. There didn't seem to be anybody here. No fancy car, no handsome man. Rukia let out the breath she was holding.
"Rukia!"
"Huh?" Rukia blinked and looked at her friends, all staring at her. "What?"
"Man, you really need rest I think," Hiyori remarked. "Shinji and the rest are heading down to the diner tonight for some food… and sake." She smirked. "Coming?"
Rukia smiled. "I don't think so. I'm heading back to my dorm to clean it up, Nel's been nagging me at it for a week now. Might or might not turn in home today."
"Okay, your dorm's the other way so we will have to split up now. Want one of us to walk you? How about Ichigo? People just take one look at his orange hair and leave both of you alone."
Ichigo laughed slightly and turned to Rukia.
"It's... okay. I can walk back alone fine. You guys go ahead." Rukia smiled and turned onto a side street. "See you guys sometime."
"Hey Rukia!" Rukia stopped and turned at Ichigo's voice.
"You be careful, okay?"
They exchanged smiles once again. "Always am."
xXxXx
Rukia trudged slowly along the pavement, lost in thought. Her worn sneakers struck against the asphalt as she walked on. She thought of the blue peony tucked away in her bag and was tempted to open the box to find just a single imperfection with the flower indicating it was a fake. Of course it was a fake. It could not be real.
Myths could not be real.
As Rukia began to reach into her bag, she suddenly looked up. Somewhere up ahead, she heard the unmistakable noises of a scuffle down one of the alleyways. When the high-pitched voice of a girl crying reached her ears, Rukia's eyes narrowed and she walked swiftly to the alley. She leaned around the wall and looked into the alleyway.
The alleyway was a single, narrow lane bordered by rough brick walls on either side. And there, three men were advancing on one young girl. The girl had long black hair and looked petrified, as she cowered helplessly against the wall on the left of the alley. The men were all rough and loud, and laughing maniacally at the girl.
That did it.
Rukia stepped out into the mouth of the alley. "Hey, let go of her!"
The assailants stopped for a while in surprise, as the girl gasped. They slowly turned to look at Rukia, whose eyes were burning with anger. As she watched, the shortest of the three men (and probably the leader) walked out and faced her.
"Who are you? Do you know her?"
Rukia looked at the terrified girl, trembling on the ground. She turned back to the leader, steadfast. "No."
"Then it's none of your business. Run along, little girl. We have something to do here. This girl owes us a sum of money greater than the likes of you can ever dream about. Now fuck off."
The girl was in debts.
Debts.
Rukia immediately felt protective of the helpless form on the ground, even if she wasn't an acquaintance.
I know what it's like.
She watched as the men advanced on the frightened girl again, their teeth bared like a hungry pack of wolves about to devour a single sheep.
Rukia gritted her teeth as she made her decision.
xXxXx
Okajima watched the little bitch tremble on the ground. He deliberated, wondering what he could do to her. She, Miyuki, would be good as one of his younger mistresses. She had been borrowing heavily from his men, no doubt to settle the debts her gambler of a father had cropped up. Okajima thanked his lucky stars once again for allowing him to come into power in the Eight Dragon Triad. He had painstakingly gathered all the strong and talented men he could in five years, before launching an attack on the-then leader, which resulted in a massive bloodbath on the streets. Even the police were afraid to intervene then. Okajima was now reaping the rewards for his boldness and bravery in the triad world. He now held so much money and authority over the black market he was surprised he wasn't declared God yet.
Now he stared down at Miyuki. The girl didn't have too bad a body figure either.
"How about you pay us in some other… way, girlie?" he asked as his two minions laughed raucously.
"I… P-Please don't…"
"Take her back, boys." He didn't even know the names of his two henchmen.
"Yes, boss." He watched as his two men approached the girl and lifted her roughly up off the ground.
'Maybe a little feel of her body right now wouldn't hurt…'
Okajima was just one step forward when a single petite figure rushed past him and knocked the two men off Miyuki with double punches.
xXxXx
Rukia breathed hard as she retreated a little, facing the two burly men. She watched them angrily wipe the marks on their faces where her fists had connected then. Rukia backed away slowly, watching their steps and trying hard to think.
She had been in numerous fights before but these guys were triad members, and definitely not to be trifled with. Rukia analyzed the condition, the distance between the gang members and herself, and also to the mouth of the alley.
There was only one course of action to be taken.
"RUN!" Rukia shouted at the girl. She watched the fear and hesitancy cross the girl's round black eyes.
"I SAID RUN!" Rukia threw the panic into her voice and launched herself into the midst of the gangsters. She dodged the punches and delivered twin kicks to their midsections.
'If I can put them down long enough just to…' Rukia heard the hurried footsteps of the girl as she picked herself up from the ground and ran out of the alley. In her moment of carelessness, Rukia felt a blow land on her arm and pulled back immediately, punching the offender, one of the fatter two, square in the face. As she did so, Rukia felt her feet fly up from underneath her as the other man tripped her. She landed on the ground hard, pain shooting down her body at the impact. Rukia shouted as the man brought his foot down on her leg, stomping hard on it. She rolled away from a second assault and struggled up from the ground, panting.
Rukia fought the two men for almost fifteen minutes, trading blows. But slowly, she knew she was getting beat. It was impossible, two against one. She could land attacks on them, but she was slowly accumulating her own share of injuries. Her entire body was sorely bruised now and she was bent double to catch her breath.
Rukia's sharp eyes hurriedly scanned the alleyway again, for any openings for an escape. She clenched her hands and drove a fist into one of the men, pushing him back onto the other. Latching onto a potential opportunity, she whirled around and made to run.
The force hit her hard in the face, so hard for a moment that Rukia saw stars.
"Trying to run, pretty one?"
Rukia reeled back in shock and pain, only to have her arms pinned behind her back by the other two men. She watched the leader straighten his leg, which had shot up in the air right in front of her face as she had made to escape.
"Let go!"
The leader walked forward and leered at her. "You made our little prey run off. What do you think is going to happen now?"
Rukia struggled hard against the men but it was no use, her arms were locked tight behind her.
"You will have to be the replacement."
Rukia felt her entire body go cold.
"You know, you don't look half bad yourself."
The leader came closer and Rukia tried to back away, only to hit the front of one of his men. The sound of rude laughter rang once more in the alleyway.
No… no…
"Now let's see if strong girls like you are any different from normal women." The leader slowly reached out to the front of her clothes. Rukia pushed desperately against the hands holding her arms back. No…
Her eyes widened in fear and shock.
Please… no…
xXxXx
No.
Rukia's eyes widened in shock. For a moment, she thought time had froze. The leader's hand was suspended in the air momentarily right near her chest. A pale hand had intercepted the leader's own hand which was dangerously close to the first button... and Rukia's dignity.
That hand now curled into a fist and the leader gave a pained shout. Rukia looked shakily to her left, at the newcomer. Some time in the first few seconds of shock, her heart had already told her who it was. Her eyes confirmed the answer. She remembered her thoughts on the Peony Hill just this morning.
He wouldn't leave her.
And now as she looked into those misty grey eyes, Rukia felt the tears spring into her eyes. Why? Why was he always there to witness her humiliation? Why? Yet why did her heart give way into hope and relief as she looked at him?
Byakuya.
She watched something pass through his grey eyes as they locked eyes. The next second, Byakuya pushed the leader back and the man fell a good few meters away on the asphalt. Byakuya swiftly turned to the two men who were pining Rukia's arms behind her and she felt their grip disappear as they were sent flying back, their shoulders colliding against the hard brick wall in sickening cracks.
Rukia felt her feet wobble. She had been so badly beaten, the gangsters were practically holding her up just now. She sank to the ground immediately. Byakuya, who had been walking towards the leader, stopped and turned to her. After watching her silently for a while, he continued walking towards the man lying on the ground. His footsteps were so calm, barely rushed, so much so that they appeared almost menacing.
"Get him! Get him!" The leader was struggling up from his spot. His two assistants disentangled themselves from the wall, looking slightly dazed. They looked between Rukia and the leader.
"GET HIM!"
Recovering, both men ran out from behind Rukia towards Byakuya. Rukia tried to open her mouth but it wouldn't move. No no no! Byakuya, behind you! She watched with wide eyes as Byakuya picked the leader up from the ground by his collars, only to be tackled out of sight by the other two down another alley on the right.
xXxXx
Cih. Another muscly no-brainer.
Okajima had seen plenty of these type of men before, acting all heroic and manly… before getting beaten up for the girl. This was going to be fun. He straightened up and cracked his knuckles slightly, preparing to instruct his two men to give this busybody the beating of his life.
Then the deep voice spoke, cutting everything off. "Now we are out of sight of any living being. Here is where I can…"
"… truly fight."
xXxXx
Rukia pressed her hands gingerly against the pavement, trying to give herself more leverage so she could stand up. She sank back painfully onto the road. No, it appeared as if her body was already at its limit.
She couldn't see what was going on down in the alley where Byakuya had been tackled just minutes ago. She couldn't hear any audible noise. What was happening?
Was Byakuya… hurt?
xXxXx
Okajima backed away in horror. The smart click of polished shoes followed him steadily.
"Why that face? Have you not witnessed bloodbaths like these in your gangster years? I would have thought you'd be used to it," The deep voice spoke, the tone almost light.
Okajima certainly had. He had had performed a lot of massacres, especially against rival gangs right on public streets. He had dealt with countless weaponry, from swords to the lethal speed of a bullet. But nothing… nothing in his thirty-eight years of life had prepared him to witness the brutal killing of his two men by a man using only bare hands. The bodies were twisted grotesquely on the ground, blood splatters against the wall where they had met their grisly end.
They did not even have the chance to cry out once.
"Rest easy. I was merciful enough to not drag it out. They only felt five second's worth of pain." Byakuya walked on towards the leader.
"W-Who are y-you?" The black eyes of the leader were wide with shock.
"You set your men upon her." The tone was now cold with fury. "Upon… my woman."
Okajima began to stutter horribly as Byakuya reached him. He lunged desperately forward, aiming for a punch but Byakuya dodged the offense almost effortlessly. The next minute, Okajima shouted out in pain as Byakuya grasped the leader's right arm and twisted it cleanly back.
"Mere mortals like you can never comprehend the anger I felt when I saw her like that."
Okajima felt the force on his arm get harder and his eyes widened.
"So how about I have you feel it instead?"
The pain… the pain… his hand felt like it was being cut off as the strange man held onto it. This destructive strength on his arm… it was unbearable. No one... no human could possibly have this much strength.
"Touch her and lose your arm."
Okajima whimpered desperately in pain, as his bones slowly began to crack under the inhuman strength. His eyes were popping out of his head in shock and torture.
Certainly Satan had chose to materialize today, to bring him to hell. Okajima had long known he would be going to hell after all his deeds, but he had never imagined the end to be this horrible. The pain was excruciating, and yet he was alive. His hand was long gone, the bones mangled under the impossibly crushing force of just one hand. Blood flowed down his arm to soak his clothes and onto the asphalt. He just wanted to hang onto dear life from this incarnation of Devil before him.
"Breathe on her face… and lose your head."
So this was how Devil looked like. In the guise of a handsome man, with no trace of humanity whatsoever in those sick grey eyes.
"P-Please… m-mercy…"
"Oh dear, I forgot." The deep voice was so cold, yet conversational. "You did breathe on her face."
xXxXx
Rukia gasped as she heard the scream. It was the worst scream she had ever heard in her life. It was bloodcurdling, like a man having his guts wrenched out of him while he was still alive. It made tremors run down Rukia's body. She wanted to run to the alleyway just to know what had happened. She lifted herself up from the ground shakily, only to crumple back to the pavement in pain. Was that Byakuya? Had he gotten hurt?
What just happened?
xXxXx
"Hello?"
"Renji, it's Byakuya."
"Hey! What's up?"
"Nothing much." Byakuya crumpled up the bloodstained, expensive handkerchief in his hand. He let it fall easily onto the ground beside the crimson splatters on the asphalt and an even more gory sight not far off.
"There is a mess on corner 46, south of intersection between Nagoya and Karasuma street. Clean it up now."
"W-What? B-But how? In broad daylight? Did our kind attack you?" Byakuya could hear the slight concern in his colleague's voice.
"No, it was three humans." Byakuya made sure his hands were their usual pale colour, devoid of blood stains before he took another step forward.
"So they found out… about us?"
"They did, and I took their heads off." Byakuya looked down at his polished shoes. No blood.
"Byakuya… you know you-
The young demon cut his assistant off. "I have got something else to settle right now. Get two or three of our men down here to sweep it all clean. Save our police the work, they already have much more matters than their inexperienced hands can handle."
"But-
The line was already dead.
xXxXx
Rukia's heart pounded fast as she watched the lean figure emerge from the alleyway. She felt her hands clenched into fists. If it was her attacker, she would have to prepare herself to fight, even in her current condition. And find Byakuya, he would have gotten himself seriously injured. She had to-
Rukia's violet eyes widened. Her mouth opened but no words came out. Byakuya bent silently to her side and peered at her with those grey, piercing eyes.
"Is anything broken?" His deep voice was cool.
"I… N-No. What about the gangsters?"
"I dealt with them. They won't be moving for a long, long time."
"Oh... Okay." Rukia refused to move from her pathetic position on the pavement, so that he would not see her injuries or how serious they actually were. She prepared to thank him for his help and to tell him to go on his way.
Her eyes widened as Byakuya suddenly moved. The next thing she knew, Rukia felt two strong arms slide under her body swiftly before she was lifted up from the ground. She looked up at Byakuya in shock, but he was not looking at her.
"I am alright. You can be on your way. T-Thank you."
"Are you?"
Rukia stubbornly kept silent. She felt Byakuya move forward as he walked, his steps easy and effortless. After a few steps, she realized they were headed for a silver Porsche parked down one of the streets.
No choppers this time, just a plain old Porsche.
Had he followed her as she walked home?
"W-Where are-
"I'm taking you to the hospital."
xXxXx
Rukia's mind was whirring as Byakuya got into the driver's seat and snapped on his seat belt. Hospital? To the hospital?
He shifted the gears and the Porsche took a turn before speeding off along a side street. Rukia suppressed her questions and watched the buildings flash by, her hand on her seat belt. Soon, Byakuya turned onto a highway and then all she could see was the clear road in front and the streetlamps and road dividers which flew by. Byakuya drove fast, Rukia had never been in a car which cruised at such a speed. Sure, Shinji did his Fast and Furious stunts once in a while on the way to the diner but it was never near the speed of this Porsche, the powerful engine roaring at the back.
Hospital.
Hospital?
"Stop!" The word escaped Rukia before she could keep her mouth shut.
Rukia yelped as Byakuya jerked on the brake and the car screeched to a stop. She stared at him in shock.
"What is it?" Byakuya's deep voice queried. He had completely disregarded the fact that he had randomly stopped his car in the middle of a highway. Thankfully there were no cars on the road.
"I… don't need to go to the hospital."
"But you are injured. You want to go home?"
"No!" Rukia almost shouted at him. "I can't go home. If Otousan sees me like this, he will be very worried. It's not good for his health."
"I see."
Rukia peered nervously at Byakuya. He was looking out over the empty highway, his expression unreadable. Rukia deliberated, weighing her options. "I cannot go back to my dorm, I have a housemate there who worries very much and would definitely tell Otousan. You can leave me someplace where I can patch myself up for a bit. I will take things from there. Maybe a bus stop... or a small diner..."
Rukia yelped as Byakuya suddenly floored the gas pedal and the Porsche shot forward at full speed. "W-WHA-"
Byakuya stared straight ahead as he drove, a small smile now playing on his lips.
"Where... are we going?"
"Back to my house."
Rukia almost blanched. "Y-Your house?"
"Someplace where you can patch yourself up for a bit? I can't think of a better place than mine."
Rukia felt herself blush at his words. "But-
"Think about it. I bring you to my place and you can stay for the night. Your injuries aren't that severe, so hopefully they will heal enough for you to hide them when you return home or to your dorm tomorrow. I have medical supplies back at my apartment."
Rukia bit her lip, her heart pounding fast. After five minutes of silent thoughts, she flipped open her cellphone and dialed a number. Rukia cleared her throat once.
"Otousan?" She spoke when the line, and her father's voice came on.
"Otousan, I have a dinner with my friends tonight. Over at my place with Nel. Is it okay if I stay over at the dorm today?"
She listened for a bit. "Yes, of course. Have you gotten dinner? Oh, you are with Hanataro?" Rukia felt her face relax into a smile. "That's good. Tell him I said hi and thank you. I will see him sometime."
Rukia paused. "T-The occasion?" She looked up at the handsome man sitting next to her.
"There's been a new friend over."
xXxXx
"I can walk by my-"
Again, her words went unheeded as Byakuya reached in and lifted her out easily from the passenger seat. Rukia felt herself blush horribly. Plenty of her friends had carried her in the past (on two occasions, Ichigo himself) and they often said she would be easily bundled up and taken away by some kidnapper. Rukia laughed at moments like these and even had a punch or two to spare. But now here in Byakuya's arms, she felt horribly awkward and timid. Not to mention, she had been much, much more closer to him than this-
No, don't think of it.
Rukia clasped her hands together tightly. It had seemed such a rational idea then in the car to put up at his place until her injuries healed. But now as Byakuya carried her up the granite steps to a silver elevator, she thought she would rather let Nel worry about her. This was the man, the man she should stay away from at all costs. What was she doing, spending the night at his place?
But it was too late now as the silver doors swept open and Byakuya stepped into the lift easily. Rukia had been surprised when the Porsche swept past the automatic gates into the vast threshold of his house. The sides of the driveway were wide and lined beautifully with perfectly-shaped trees. But as he carried her up to the entrance, Rukia saw that there was no door. Only a single silver elevator awaited them and yet the multi-storeyed building before them seemed enormous.
"Rukia, if you could? The second button from the bottom." The deep voice jolted Rukia from her reverie.
Rukia had not put her arms around Byakuya's neck, preferring to keep them clasped over her stomach as he carried her. Now she hurriedly reached over and hit the said button with her right hand. She saw that all five buttons on the elevator panel were blank, with no numerals or words on them. This man was so mysterious.
Rukia allowed her eyes to sweep the silver elevator. The back was lined with a huge mirror and the sides were polished silver. She wondered if he had servants with him in his house. Rukia brought her eyes once around the lift, before lifting them to Byakuya.
He was looking right at her.
Rukia hurriedly looked down.
xXxXx
The pair of violet eyes widened as the door swung open.
"Here we are."
And Rukia took in Kuchiki Byakuya's home for the very first time.
It was luxury at its ultimate perfection. His house was a wondrous apartment suite, from the massive silver flat-screen TV to the rich beige European carpeting. Rukia's eyes lingered on the white chaise lounge and accompanying couch in front of the sleek TV, before moving to the rows of polished antique cabinets lining one side of the wall. Thick velvet drapes covered the windows and many art masterpieces hung on the walls, each with their own gold spotlight. To her left, Rukia could see a white carpeted staircase making its way up out of sight and on her right, the metallic hints of a kitchen.
She suddenly felt terribly small. She really should have gone back to her dorm.
"I-
Byakuya carried her to the chaise lounge in the living room, before lowering her gently onto the furniture.
"Your house is very beautiful," Rukia said awkwardly.
"Is it?" The tiniest hint of a smile grazed Byakuya's handsome features. "I personally organized the renovation before I moved in." He straightened up and walked swiftly to one of the ornate cabinets.
Rukia nodded, even though his back was to her. She heard him moving things around in the cupboard before he closed the door. He turned back and she caught sight of the first-aid kit box. Byakuya came to the glass-topped table and placed the metal box down. He unlocked the clasps and opened the case.
"I... can do it myself." Rukia reached out nervously to the box. Byakuya did not say anything but his hand withdrew from the kit. She turned the box to her and carefully took out some cotton, the medicinal oil bottle, the ointment bottle and a strip of plasters.
Byakuya watched on silently. Rukia emptied some oil onto the cotton and lifted it to her face.
She realized the minute the cotton was in front of her eyes that she was unable to pinpoint the spot on her face. There had been no facial mirror in the first-aid kit and she had stupidly forgot to check her reflection in the car and the lift just now. Maybe if she just applied it onto the surrounding area, she would probably get it somewhere…
"I will do it." Rukia's eyes widened as Byakuya plucked the wet cotton swab out of her hand and knelt down in front of her. She was sitting on the couch but even on his knees, Byakuya was eye level with Rukia. He reached out and touched her face slightly before moving the swab to her cheek. Rukia felt her cheek sting but she did not make any sound.
"Does it hurt?"
She looked at Byakuya. His grey eyes locked onto hers. There was no dangerous glint in his eye, just pure question… and concern. Rukia felt something move deep inside her, and she quickly shook her head.
"Okay." Byakuya returned his eyes to the side of her cheeks and worked on her face silently. His jaw was suddenly clenched and Rukia felt she had to say something, at the very least.
"I… Well, we made it out fine," Rukia remarked quickly.
Byakuya's hand stopped and Rukia knew he was staring at her now. She avoided his eyes and looked somewhere past his shoulder.
"Did you? Then what are these?" His voice was cold.
Rukia's eyes were wide. "I… It's nothing. I always have scraps from all the fights…" She realized her mistake as she felt Byakuya stiffen in front of her.
"You have been in this more than once?" His deep voice while emotionless, betrayed subtle disbelief. Rukia felt the same she did when she was caught working overtime by her father.
"It's none of your business anyway," she replied.
His eyes widened slightly at her words, but he continued his ministrations at her face.
Rukia had not realized there were so many bruises. Each time Byakuya applied the cotton to her face, she felt her skin sting. Maybe she really needed a mirror now, it seemed like her face had suffered a real beating.
"Your leg now, Rukia."
"H-Huh?" Rukia looked up at Byakuya, who was now putting the cotton swabs aside and was holding up the ointment bottle.
She moved her leg uncertainly and Byakuya took it up. He slowly rolled the edges of her pants upwards, his hands careful and gentle. Rukia stifled a gasp when she saw the purplish-black marks on her leg. Suddenly, she was grateful not to have gone back to her dorm, Nel would definitely throw a fit and ring Otousan up.
Byakuya rubbed his hands together with ointment. "It will hurt," he spoke in his deep voice.
Rukia bit her lip and nodded. Byakuya brought his hands down over her skin and rubbed in hard. This time, she could not hold in the yelp of pain.
"OWWWW!"
Byakuya stopped and looked up. "Did you dislocate something?"
"I… don't know."
She watched his perfect eyebrows knit themselves together. Suddenly, Byakuya rose up from his position in front of her. As Rukia watched with wide eyes, he reached into his pocket and flipped open his cellphone. Byakuya's fingers danced across the keypad for a bit before he lifted it to his ear, listening.
"Hello. Unohana-sensei, it's Byakuya. I require some assistance here at home. Would it be alright if you come and take a look?"
He kept silent for a bit as the person ('Sensei?' Rukia wondered) talked on the other line.
"I'm terribly sorry for the trouble. Thank you and I'll see you."
xXxXx
Rukia's eyes widened.
"Hello there." The sweet-looking woman with deep blue eyes smiled down at her.
"Oh…" Rukia tried to stand up but the pain fell on her legs. She hurriedly bowed politely, as much of a bow as she could manage while sitting on the chaise lounge. "Er…"
"I'm Unohana Retsu. Nice to meet you…" The woman turned uncertainly to Byakuya, who stood behind her.
"Rukia."
"Oh, Rukia-san." Unohana smiled but Rukia caught the questioning look in her eyes. She immediately felt self-conscious again. Surely it must seem strange for this woman to see her here! Unohana looked really kind and good-natured like she could never harbour any evil thoughts ('Unlike the man standing behind her,' Rukia's mind had to snip in) and Rukia immediately liked her as she had stepped into the living room from the elevator.
Rukia did not know who Unohana was. All she knew was that barely ten minutes had passed after Byakuya had placed the call then the sound of the electric doorbell out front tinkled through the suite. Byakuya had told her not to move before sweeping into the elevator and turning up with this kind woman. Was she a doctor? Was she, Rukia thought as her eyes widened slightly, his partner or something?
"I-I'm just a friend." Rukia could not stop herself as she blurted out the words.
The deep chuckle escaped from Byakuya as Unohana raised her eyebrows before smiling. She turned to Byakuya once and then knelt down in front of Rukia.
"But of course, Rukia-san. I am the Kuchiki family doctor. I have looked after Byakuya since he was young." She gently touched Rukia's leg at a spot. "Does it hurt?"
Rukia shook her head dumbly. Byakuya had called his family doctor here to take a look at her? It was so strange, she thought, as the doctor bent down to examine her leg. Even the family doctor looked so elegant and flawless, almost like Byakuya himself. She said she had been taking care of Byakuya since he was young but she herself looked really youthful, her long black hair tied up in a braid over one side of her shoulder.
After fifteen minutes of physical examination, Unohana rose and smiled at Rukia again. "You will be just fine, Rukia-san. No dislocation, no fractures. Just that your leg's a little bruised. You will have to take it easy the next couple of days."
"H-Hai. Thank you."
Unohana smiled again, her kind eyes smiling as well. "No problem."
She turned to Byakuya.
"Arigato, Sensei and I'm sorry for the trouble. I will see you out."
xXxXx
"Byakuya." Unohana's dark blue eyes were knowing as the elevator doors closed.
"I know what you are going to say. And I know what I should do."
"You might know, but 'should' and 'will' are two entirely different things… with entirely different repercussions, Byakuya." Unohana's voice was soft.
"I know." Byakuya's voice was firm. "You know I've never gotten into any situation which I cannot find my way out of, Sensei."
"To be absolutely honest, I was more than a bit surprised when I smelled the human scent in your apartment and I realized what it was all about."
"There have been other mortal women in my apartment before."
"But not one where you intentionally called me to come check if she was injured."
Byakuya looked at Unohana silently.
Unohana smiled slightly. "That being said, you're right. Your record of never getting into a spot has been pretty spotless. Well then… have fun. And good night." She walked out as the elevator doors opened.
"Do keep this between both of us, Sensei. I wouldn't want inappropriate rumours to circulate around, especially when it concerns the Kuchiki family."
Unohana stopped and turned. "But of course, Byakuya. It is not a serious matter, is it?"
"No, it is not." Byakuya's voice was still firm.
Unohana smiled and waved, before getting into her car. But as the elevator doors closed and she disappeared from sight, Byakuya pondered his last words right up to the second floor of his apartment suite.
xXxXx
"You are a pretty good liar yourself," Byakuya remarked easily as he lifted the cup of tea he had placed on the table for Unohana just now.
Rukia frowned. His words had always gotten to her… in a very bad way. She allowed some quiet fury to seep into her words as she spoke. "And why's that?"
Byakuya disappeared into his silver kitchen. Rukia heard the unmistakable opening and closing of a dishwasher. "You are not my friend, and you never wanted to be."
Rukia looked up in surprise at those words. She watched as Byakuya walked back into the living room. For some reason, she felt her voice quieten down slightly. "No, I never wanted to be."
"Me neither."
Her eyes shot up again, meeting Byakuya's smoky grey ones. He was now directly in front of her, and looking right back at her. "I don't want to be your friend, Rukia." His deep voice held her without conditions. "You know what I want to be."
Rukia felt her cheeks heat up horribly at the subtle words as Byakuya bent before her again.
"So Unohana-sensei said it was alright. And she gave you the painkillers and the massage."
Rukia nodded, even though it wasn't a question.
"Alright then. You will have to bear with this. It will be fine in a day or two."
Rukia nodded again uncertainly.
Byakuya looked at her silently for a bit before he finally spoke. "Have you been physically harmed by anyone before?"
Rukia's head shot up at his surprise question. "Sort of."
"Did they…"
Then he remembered.
"You are in luck, Byakuya. We do have someone new, really new if you know what I mean…"
He was the one who had taken her first time, there in the love hotel. Was he any different from them? From those thugs in the back alley?
Byakuya looked up and Rukia was looking back at him curiously. He swiftly changed his question. "… did they cause heavy injuries?"
The last thing he expected to hear from the quiet girl was a giggle. But she did, and the soft, tinkly sound of her voice was the first he had heard it that way before. His eyes widened as hers did, probably because neither expected such a response. Quickly, she straightened her face. "Not really. I mean… I can handle more than a few punches myself. I'm pretty good at fighting." Rukia held her head high as she spoke. "If those guys hadn't played dirty in the alley, I could have beaten them and then make a getaway. It's always like that. Plus I grew up that way in the orphanage so it's easy."
"You are an orphan?" Byakuya's deep voice was calm, and just barely betraying a hint of surprise.
Rukia felt her cheeks pinken but she sat straight. She had had moments like this when people realized she had been abandoned and never knew her parents. When they realized she never had the love of a blood relative, and that she probably never will. It was alright, she had Otousan. Otousan, who had been the angel to deliver her right out of Hell into her own personal heaven of care and love. It was everything to be proud of.
"Yes I am. Otousan adopted me from the orphanage when I was-"
Ding.
Both Byakuya and Rukia looked up in surprise at the sound of the timer. Byakuya turned back to her and nodded. "Your dinner, Rukia. You must be hungry." He got up and strode out of sight. Rukia heard the clink of crockery as Byakuya moved about in the kitchen.
He came back to her with a bowl of hot, steaming something. When he placed it on the table before her, Rukia saw that it was noodles cooked in thick gravy. "I hope takeout is okay. If not..."
"Takeout's fine," Rukia quickly replied, feeling uncomfortable.
Byakuya watched her silently, not rising from his spot in front of her.
"Rukia, do explain to me the need for you to fight others, when it is of no use to you?" Byakuya moved back from her on his heels. It was a surprising gesture, usually he was always pressing in on her in heart-pounding situations. This was… different. "Why do you not take care of yourself?"
Rukia sat up straighter as she stared back at him, with disbelief this time as well. "You might be able to watch people getting killed, robbed and bullied in front of you, but I'm not that sort of person." Byakuya stared at her but she stared back. "I… want to be able to go to sleep after a day knowing I have good for the world, and being able to give some of it back to people."
"Just get a bed like mine, you will be able to go to sleep regardless." Byakuya retorted as he rose up from his position. "Eat up, then you can take the bedroom upstairs."
xXxXx
"I really don't need-"
Rukia looked down, refusing to look at Byakuya as he carried her up the carpeted stairs to the bedroom. She was still a little angry from their conversation just now ('He really was selfish!') and very embarrassed that he was going all nice-guy on her.
Byakuya had left her to eat dinner and went up the stairs, probably to his bedroom. He had returned some ten minutes after she had finished. It had given Rukia just enough time to prepare herself and take in her surroundings properly. It was perfect, his timing was perfect… as was everything of his.
Now Rukia gasped softly as they entered his bedroom. Like his entire apartment suite, it was the highest luxury money could buy. The heavy curtains, the oak book racks on one side of the room ('He reads?') and the massive, black bed on the right. As Byakuya carried her straight to the bed, Rukia reflexively stiffened in his arms. He chuckled slightly at her response and laid her gently onto the mattress.
Almost immediately, he turned and went out of the room. Rukia took a moment to calm her fast-beating heart and surveyed the bedroom once more. There was even an executive-styled table and chair in one corner of the room, where he probably did his business work. Rukia could not stop gaping at the collection of books on the racks however. There were three racks in total, and she found herself wondering what books they were holding.
The dull sound of the carpet alerted Rukia's sharp ears to Byakuya. Rukia sat on the black bed uncomfortably as Byakuya settled himself on the comfy executive chair at the desk in the room.
Byakuya silently surveyed Rukia for a while before speaking again. "Can you tell me how often you have been… fighting like this?"
Rukia looked up. When Byakuya stayed silent, she spoke, "Err… I don't know. When something comes up that needs me to fight, then I fight. I don't rush headlong into it first," Rukia chuckled. "Trouble in fights usually find me. But I do fight maybe once or twice in a month."
"And you get injured like this?"
"No, as I said before. Most of the time I beat the guys down, except when they play dirty. It's been in my blood since I was a kid." Rukia nodded. Silence suddenly fell over the room.
"Rukia." She looked up at the voice. Byakuya was now looking at her seriously. "How was it… at the orphanage?"
Rukia's eyes widened but Byakuya's grey eyes never looked away from her.
'Don't tell him.' The small voice at the back of her head spoke. 'You barely even know him. For all you know, he could be planning something really dangerous.'
"I…"
But he had rescued her. He had beaten down those guys who had more horrible things in store for her, saved her life as well as her dignity. Brought her back home and tended to her injuries, even if it was awkward. Sure, he had been that man, but…
"It was like Hell."
Byakuya's eyes widened slightly at the quiet voice. "I see."
Rukia took a deep breath. "I had no real friends. The kids were always sneaking into my room once the lights are out to steal whatever food I had stored up, or my toys. I was weak the first couple of years. My hair was pulled countless of times, I was slapped and pushed around and bullied. I think I was even bitten once." Rukia allowed a small laugh.
"I… er…" She looked uncertainly at Byakuya but when he kept quiet, she continued. "Yeah well, the small ones were probably the ones bullied the most anyway. I remembered those hungry nights when I curled up crying because they took away the candy I was saving for a midnight treat." Rukia smiled slightly. "I was a little strange back then, when I was young. I like making treats for myself..." Rukia's face suddenly took on a wistful look. "… so I can look forward to at least something everyday. It keeps me going in there."
She shook herself slightly. "But well, I grew up fast enough and learned to be tough. The first beating I ever gave someone was when they cornered me in the park. I just pushed out against the leader and started going against her with everything." Rukia laughed again. "I didn't deny my wrongdoing when the teacher questioned me so I received the punishment. It went on like that for as long as I was in the orphanage and a lot of them learned to back off."
Rukia chanced a look at Byakuya but he was still looking at her. "Then one day, I was heading to the candy shop to buy my favourite sweet. Bunny candies." Rukia smiled again in spite of herself. "I was knocked down by a car because I wasn't too careful. The man who knocked me down was Otousan."
She folded her hands together.
"He brought me to the hospital and watched over me for the length of my stay. I enjoyed his company so much, he was the first person I actually wanted to be my friend, to be close to. I almost cried when I was returned to the orphanage, even though I could walk and run again. But Otousan kept coming back to play with me. After a few months, he signed the papers and took me home as his adopted daughter. That day has remained the happiest day of my life. Actually no…" Rukia shook her head, smiling. "Everyday with him is the happiest of my life."
"I see."
"I… err…" Rukia stared at Byakuya, feeling awkward now that the conversation was over. He stood up from the chair, his pale handsome face still looking at her. She couldn't read this man, couldn't read his thoughts or feelings at all. Not a few weeks ago, they both had been in one bedroom before like this, pounding in heat and desire. Now, he stood a little way off from her, almost polite.
Rukia didn't know what to say. Maybe she should offer to take the couch downstairs, it was his bedroom anyway. She didn't know which would make her feel safer, sleeping in his bed or his living room couch. Either way, they were both going to be the only two occupants in his suite. It made her nervous, and yet…
"I promise I won't be trying anything today." Rukia's eyes widened at the deep voice. Had he sensed her nervousness?
"I will be downstairs. Call out if you need something or…" His grey eyes flicked to something behind the bedstead and she followed his gaze. Rukia saw a small white buzzer mounted on the wall. "That is an activated alarm that connects through the suite. You can press the button if you need something."
"Oh... okay."
Byakuya looked back at her silently. Rukia suddenly felt self-conscious, her hands tucked underneath his black comforter and her back leaning against the bed frame.
Without a word, Byakuya turned his back and walked to the bedroom door. A long arm stretched out onto the light switch before the room plunged into warm darkness. Rukia watched as he started to move out the door.
"I-"
Byakuya stopped almost immediately at her voice. The orange glow from the light in the hallway cloaked around his figure, his back to her.
"T-Thank you."
He turned his head a little, and the light fell onto his mysterious grey eyes.
"Good night, Rukia."
xXxXx
Byakuya walked down the carpeted stairs silently. Despite what he said, he did want to remain in the bedroom with her… just to make sure she was alright and slept on well through the night. Knowing Rukia, she would rather deal with any pain or discomfort than press the alarm and have him come to her.
Knowing Rukia? No, he didn't really know her much. But he was… definitely starting to.
Byakuya descended the stairs. His grey eyes were fixed ahead but he wasn't really seeing anything.
Her life in the orphanage…
Thank God you found a cashier job tonight, if not, we won't be able to pay…
Please leave me, and my family alone…
That night… was just a one-time thing…
Now let's see if strong girls like you are any different from normal women...
His hands were already clenched tight at his sides, his knuckles white. Byakuya felt the demonic fury sweep through him slightly, and the crystal lights in the hallway flickered dangerously under the aura. He should have skinned those men in the alley just now, and maybe disembowel them. And those people in the orphanage…
Byakuya closed his eyes and exhaled, letting the anger pass him through. It was no use getting worked up now, he had dealt with the gangsters properly. He felt his hand loosen before the orange glow of the lights promptly came back on.
Byakuya walked to one of the huge antique cabinets in the living room and extracted several sheets. He returned to the living room couch and placed them there, before arranging the pillows at one end.
She was so strong… and yet so weak. Like the first of cherry blossoms… so filled with life during spring bloom, but so fragile against the bitter wind.
And so beautiful.
Byakuya got up onto the couch and laid his long body down. His arm moved over the table until it found the silver remote. Without looking at the device, Byakuya pressed a single button and all the lights in the suite dimmed down. He kept his eyes open, turned to the ceiling.
He had lied to Unohana, when he said he usually had women in here with him.
This was the first time a girl had ever been in his apartment suite. It really was, minus the countless bitches who obtained his address through less-than-legitimate reasons and turned up at his doorstep hoping to seduce him again. They were all harshly turned away.
This was the first time he had ever brought a girl back home… because he wanted to.
Byakuya chuckled in the dark. Rukia, you're giving me all my first times.
His grey eyes softened as he looked up at the ceiling, at the spot where a petite figure would be curling up just above him.
Sleep, my Rukia. I'm here.
xXxXx
Rukia's eyes shot open in the darkness. She had been drifting off for a bit until a sudden thought jolted her. She turned around in bed, nervously half-expecting to see Byakuya standing over the bed and looking down at her.
The room was empty.
'Rukia, you idiot.' Rukia shook her head and turned back on the pillow. As much as she hated to admit it, Byakuya's bed was the most comfortable thing she had ever laid on in her life. It was hard and yet it buoyed her weight nicely like water. The covers were warm and her head sunk just nicely into the pillow. His bed also smelled of something sweet and floral. Was it his scent?
'It's probably the perfume of all those women he brought in here,' The sudden thought struck Rukia, as her eyes widened in mortification. She shifted gingerly on the bed and looked at the inside of the covers. 'God help, let there not be any residues…'
But as she lay there on the bed, Rukia could not help thinking on the thought that woke her up in the first place. It had shot through her and surprised her. Yes, it had occurred almost naturally just now, Rukia had not stopped to think about it. But now in the darkness and she was all alone, her heart questioned her.
Why have I told him… so much about myself?
xXxXx
And there you have it, Chapter 9! Pretty full of content, so I hope it makes up for the absence and for a while from now (because I don't know when I will get to write again). I hope this chapter is good enough, I did it a little different this time. Because we always have Byakuya and Rukia being really sexy together *wink*, this one had the sweetness, a little bit of Rukia's touching past and some comic sides to their interaction. And now, both Byakuya and Rukia are learning a little more of the other's world. :)
So I hope you enjoyed this chapter and do please review it and tell me what you think! It will definitely motivate me to write more! :D And it's wonderful seeing you guys again after more than a month. :)