Hello, it's been a while again, hasn't it? Life's been really busy for me so far... but well, take it one day at a time, as the saying goes. :)
Thank you once again for all the reviews for the previous chapter, they really do motivate me to do bits and pieces of writing here and there. :D And also the PMs of well wishes and requests, I'm happy that Demons has attracted different fans on many levels. Thank you to Kahli hime, Void, Kannabisu, compa16, isara-love, Sakimi1014, ReckoningDay, Kuchiki24, couples lover, Jinks, anne, cintiasnakeblack, BlackBurningHeart, Crystal-Clear Hope, XLightningX, vicky73, Kichou, Lilian Violet, Daylite, LuciL06, byakuchiki, Lanny-Sama, YuzurihaNoRyuu, Nikki-4, arlingtonsteward, 1SuperKawaii, CielDoll, Suisho x Hirako Shinji, Voidy, Www, silverqueen, Obsessed Dreamer, onlyluna, FreeSoul1990, L, reecei, DRUON, Mai, seras3791, KaRaNature, LadyAllan, Pamila, Crystalline Arch, anonyme, Kags, im Brasil, bleachfanfictionall, Namine1993, and GAMF Fatlard Hobos. I'm thankful to have all of your support for this fic, and this chapter goes out to all of you... thank you very much. :)
Also, I have been doing a bit more writing than the standard ByaRuki. There are a few new stories from me and they are namely, "Sequel: Anteros", which is the sequel to my ByaRuki fic 'To Win You Back', "Girlfriend Artificioso", an AU IchiRuki fic, "Behind Ivory Eyes" for the NejiHina pairing and a brand-new Hakuouki fic "Sleeping With the Enemy" for the ChikagexChizuru pairing. If you haven't read them yet and are interested, feel free to do so. :D
I have also started a new poll since July 2011 for which fic I should update in priority... and Demons have remained on the top for now (*Byakuya and Rukia cheers* XD). ;) Feel free to vote in the poll if you haven't, I will keep myself to date with it.
And here it is, the new chapter. I hope you enjoy. Do let me know if there are any corrections, this is once again uploaded very early in the morning at 2am. XD
DISCLAIMER: Don't own Bleach or its characters. But I own the story.
Rukia, you are welcome to come to my office anytime.
Oh?
That is, if you ever find yourself wanting to visit me.
xXxXx
"B-Byakuya…" Rukia bit back a groan.
She had just dropped by his office after class to see him, simply to talk to him for the day. And now her back was against the hard polished wood of the bookcase, her clothes half undone, her legs straddling the passionate man pressed against her.
"Hmm?" Byakuya's voice was a low growl, even as a question.
"S-Stop it… we are in a…" A pleasured moan escaped Rukia as Byakuya's hand found a sensitive spot in her body.
"You don't like it?" His voice was so sultry in seduction.
"Y-You have a meeting in thirty minutes!"
"I have all the time in the world." Byakuya drew back slightly, breathless but smiling that handsome sly smile Rukia knew only too well. "And I'm guessing we won't be taking so long."
Rukia knew she shouldn't have teased him from the beginning. She had just gotten off class in a very happy mood, her research conference was coming up and she could barely wait to share the results of her project. Otousan was happy and healthy, he hadn't had a relapse in months and had been going on company trips out of town. Rukia was happy, it seemed like everything was going to be alright.
On impulse, she had then decided to drop by Byakuya's office. Rukia had arrived at Azaris and buzzed her way up to Byakuya's office, completely overlooking the rudeness and death glares of his secretary in her happiness. Rukia had been so happy… she had been like a little, immature kid when Byakuya had let her in his office suite with that smile she loved so much. She had been playful around him as he sat at his office desk, even coming up behind his shoulder to peer curiously at his work. When Byakuya had informed her about his work for the day (which included a meeting in an hour), Rukia had remarked jokingly that he needed to relax and started to massage his shoulders. And then somehow, her hands had boldly traveled over his shoulders and made teasing, lazy circles on his chest before she straightened up and moved away from him. "I will just sit in the guest lounge until you are finished," she had said and gave him a cheeky smile as she moved toward the reading area. Behind her, Rukia had heard Byakuya move up from his desk and follow her footsteps. Once she reached the bookcase, he pushed her up gently against the furniture.
"What game are we playing now, Rukia?" Byakuya had whispered into her ear as he bent down to nibble one sensitive earlobe. "Because whatever it is, you have made me curious… and excited."
She should not have teased him from the beginning.
"I was being good until you came in to seduce me." Byakuya's voice was husky as he spoke. His hips started to grind urgently against Rukia's, and he had already moved her skirt upwards. "Though I would be lying if I said I did not welcome this."
"Byakuya… the… the meeting…" The words were lost in yet another moan as Byakuya pushed himself against her. Rukia could not deny this, the familiar fire had already started traveling lower than her stomach. Her hands joined his as they urgently tugged on his trousers.
"Rukia…" Byakuya's voice was throaty as he moved over his Rukia, touching her everywhere in frenzied passion. He did not even bother shrugging off his loose, unbuttoned shirt.
"B-Byakuya, today's not safe…" Rukia gasped out. "Protection…"
Byakuya stopped moving for a moment, as his grey eyes locked on Rukia's expressive violet ones.
Rukia, if you only knew…
The moment passed in a heartbeat. Keeping Rukia up against the bookcase, Byakuya easily reached down into the pocket of his trousers and drew out a small packet. He slipped on the protection with Rukia's help, both of them too impatient and needy to allow the other to work individually.
And then both of them were moving urgently together, moans passing through joined lips, lovers trying to get enough of each other in heated passion and desire, disregarding all around them…
xXxXx
Byakuya stopped the car at a red traffic light and turned his head to look at Rukia, who was fast asleep in the passenger seat. Byakuya had been a little too overexcited in the office, and had sucked out a little too much of her life force. He brought his hand down and ran a finger tenderly across her cheek.
I am sorry, Rukia.
He continued staring at her with his misty grey eyes, as the events of the evening drifted through his thoughts.
B-Byakuya, today's not safe… protection…
To Rukia, it had been nothing more than making love with the man she loved... and the necessity of safe protection in case of an unexpected pregnancy out of wedlock. To her, everything was just normal. But for him, the reason he carried a packet or two of condoms in his pocket… was to only feel normal. He would never, ever need them. Because he was not normal, and was never going to be.
The grey eyes filled with subtle longing, and sadness.
Rukia, I could never get you pregnant... no matter how much I tried, no matter how much I want to.
Byakuya remembered how lofty he had been in his womanizing past, how he cared little for any repercussions of his sexual acts, knowing full well that demons could never impregnate humans, except in very rare instances of Sacred Exchanges. Back then, he had never performed any form of Exchange with any female (human or otherwise) so he was never worried. Through his six hundred years of life, he had grown up hearing taboo tales of children of demon-human parentage, but never meeting one throughout his lifetime.
But right here, right now, when he had finally fallen in love, how he wished those tales were more... possible. How he wished he could worry about not having protection whenever he and Rukia made love. How he wished… that someday, someday he could pamper a healthy, pregnant Rukia with all her food cravings as they happily expected a child together.
Byakuya had never thought that these simple desires would someday be his to harbour. He had never thought he would actually want to get married or settle down. But he wanted to… finally. Not now, but somewhere in the future. He wanted to come home to one woman, wanted to come home to Rukia. Wanted to have her massage his tired shoulders at night, to talk to her about his work and hers for the day, to see her sleeping next to him, to have her wake him up to a Sunday breakfast at home.
Byakuya's hand lingered on Rukia's cheek just a while longer.
Rukia, how I wish… when you are ready, that we could have a baby, that you could bear our child…
The Incubus was jolted from his deep thoughts as the car behind his honked its horn. The traffic light had turned green, it was time to move.
Turning his grey eyes back to the street, Byakuya shifted gears and floored the gas.
xXxXx
He carried her upstairs to his bedroom.
Rukia was very light, and fit perfectly in Byakuya's arms. He placed her down on his huge black bed, before straightening up and staring at her for a while. Byakuya then made his way over to his walk-in wardrobe and opened the doors. He stared in at the contents of the wardrobe, of countless of apparels.
Half of the wardrobe was made up of expensive office jackets hung up on polished wooden hangers and neatly-pressed laundered shirts. Another half… was filled with dresses. Byakuya had been working on this for quite some time. He had gotten a glimpse of Rukia's clothing size (having had Madam Kabuki tailor Rukia's evening gown for the Azaris dinner), and he had been working on making a collection of clothing for her… in his own wardrobe.
The Incubus did not know why exactly, but it was a symbol of a very simple hope. He did not care if he seemed obsessive that way but one day, he simply wanted Rukia to use his closet… as hers.
Slowly, Byakuya bent over a drawer chest and opened it. Inside, he looked at the nest of pyjamas, the left side filled with folded black robes and striped men pyjamas… and the right with female ones. Byakuya lifted a pair of rabbit-themed pyjamas out (knowing full well that she loved bunnies) and made his way over to Rukia.
He gently moved her into a supine position, causing Rukia to make a soft grunting sound almost as if in protest, causing Byakuya to smile again. He unbuttoned her blouse and then unzipped her skirt. After he had undressed her, Byakuya worked the pyjamas onto her before stepping back to admire his work.
The pyjamas softened Rukia's look very much, making her look very, very adorable. Not wanting to waste any second, Byakuya speed-changed into his own black pyjamas and got into bed next to her. He smiled as she reflexively moved closer to him and pressed her body into his. Byakuya placed his hands around her and hugged her tight, as he closed his eyes to a peaceful, blissful sleep.
Sweet dreams, Rukia.
xXxXx
Rukia woke up groggily in bed. What time was it, where was she? Ever since she knew Byakuya, Rukia realized she had had a penchant of getting up in unknown places and not knowing where she was when she was previously awake. It all seemed to happen like a dream, like she was going through motions that weren't hers to have. But one thing Rukia was certain, and that was the place that she awoken to was always safe and secure, and was always a place where she was close to Byakuya.
Rukia sat up and rubbed her bleary eyes. She took in the bright sunlight, the huge black bed and the tangled sheets around her.
Byakuya's apartment suite.
So I had fallen asleep again?
And he had dressed her… once again. Rukia looked down at the long-sleeved pyjamas covering her arms, and smiled affectionately at the adorable pattern of bunnies. Getting up from the bed, she hurried into the toilet to freshen up and then headed out the door and downstairs. Was Byakuya home?
As Rukia's bare toes touched the carpet in the living room, she heard a sizzling sound from the kitchen and caught the smell of ham and sausages cooking. Slowly, she approached Byakuya's metallic black and silver kitchen and stood at the entrance.
Rukia had to bite back a laugh. "Good morning."
Byakuya turned around at her voice. "Good morning." He smiled at her.
Rukia could not help it, she giggled slightly.
"Something amusing?" Byakuya asked, cocking up an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Nothing," Rukia replied as she approached him. Byakuya was wearing a white shirt, left unbuttoned at the front and loose cotton pants. A black apron was secured at his front, and that was what had made her laugh.
Byakuya and cooking just did not mesh well.
She walked up to the stove and peered down at the saucepan."It looks wonderful!" she exclaimed in surprise as she stared at the sausages Byakuya had been cooking.
Byakuya smiled, and expertly scooped the sausages into a white plate next to the stove. Next, he added raw honey ham into the pan and waited as they sizzled.
Rukia chuckled again.
"What?"
"You can cook?"
Byakuya raised an eyebrow at her. "You will be seeing a lot of things you had no idea I can do. I can multi-task decently as well. Watch."
With one hand on the ladle, Byakuya hooked his other around Rukia's waist as she gasped. He pulled her to him as he expertly flipped the ham over on their sides. Then he bent over and nuzzled her neck, as the meat sizzled on the pan.
His hand slowly moved down her curves, as his lips lingered soft and tantalizing against hers.
"Herbal mint.…" Byakuya murmured softly as his tongue teased slightly past her teeth. "Someone has been using my toothpaste."
Rukia squirmed in his arms before pulling away. "Cook your food," she said in a mockingly stern tone.
"I don't have to. We can eat… each other," Byakuya proposed as he turned to her with a heavy-lidded gaze.
"I… No thanks." Rukia opened a kitchen cabinet door, looking for more plates. "I would choose sausages over you for my breakfast."
"I would choose you over sausages for my breakfast."
Rukia could not help it, she laughed. Byakuya smiled at her as he turned back to his cooking. "The second cabinet, Rukia," he spoke easily.
"Okay."
When she had located the crockery, Rukia carefully took down two white plates and placed them next to the stove. Byakuya scooped the food onto the plates effortlessly, and Rukia whisked them to the beautiful black glass-topped table in the dining room where they soon settled down to eat breakfast.
"I fell asleep again?" Rukia scrunched up her nose. "I must be really tired."
Byakuya smiled softly at her as he slid his fork out of his mouth. "I hope you didn't mind that I brought you here. I didn't want to wake you and I figured it would be alright, as you told me Otousan is out of town for two days so he wouldn't be worried."
Rukia smiled back. "It's okay. And... I really like the pyjamas." She looked down again at the adorable pattern on her clothes.
Byakuya smiled at her, before gesturing to the plates before them. "Let's eat."
The couple tucked in silently to the wonderfully-hot ham and sausages. Byakuya looked up at Rukia across the table. "Do you have anything coming up?"
Rukia nodded eagerly and swallowed hurriedly to answer Byakuya, causing him to smile again. "I will be having a science conference in two weeks, where I will be reporting on my current project."
"That's wonderful. I daresay, they are good results."
Rukia smiled, her beautiful eyes shining. "Well, they are results that support my initial hypothesis, and they look really promising."
"I'm glad."
"Would you like to come? There are three invites given out per participant."
"I will check my organiser in the office… but I would love to."
Rukia grinned happily and Byakuya could not help himself as he reached out his hand to caress her cheek gently. She did not even blush this time.
"Actually, I have always thought your apartment suite is really beautiful…" Rukia looked about the dining room. "… ever since I came here the first time."
Byakuya and Rukia smiled at each other, knowing that they were both indulging in the same thoughts at the same time… of that one particular time in the past.
Your house is very beautiful…
Is it? I personally organized the renovation before I moved in.
Did you dislocate something? Do explain to me the need for you to fight others, when it is of no use to you? Why do you not take care of yourself?
I… want to be able to go to sleep after a day knowing I have good for the world…
Rukia. How was it… at the orphanage?
"You were very beaten up the time, I was very angry that I had not arrived earlier to prevent your injuries," Byakuya spoke up. "You had no idea how worried I was."
Rukia chuckled. "I know, so you had to call Unohana-sensei."
You are not my friend, and you never wanted to be.
No, I never wanted to be.
Me neither. I don't want to be your friend, Rukia. You know what I want to be.
"I never wanted to be your friend." Byakuya smiled as he repeated the words Rukia had heard as she sat in his living room months back. "You know what I want to be, Rukia."
"I know." It was Rukia's turn to cock her head to the right in a playful manner. "And you are now." Her voice was soft as she smiled at him.
Byakuya's grey eyes widened before they softened again. He suppressed the urge to lean over the table and kiss Rukia's lips for the millionth time. If he kept having his way with her, he was going to start pining for her while in the office everyday.
"But my house is often empty," Byakuya replied as Rukia's violet eyes locked on his. "I would like it a lot if you could drop by once in a while, Rukia."
"Ah?"
"I understand you are busy, and I am not making it a responsibility of yours." Byakuya gave her a soft smile. "But do drop by my house whenever you feel like it… at your leisure."
I'm not trying to squeeze into your life, Rukia. I just want to be a part of it… once in a while.
Rukia nodded, a happy smile on her lips. "Okay."
xXxXx
Water dripped from the stone ceiling, the edges weathered down by time and moisture. The double footsteps echoed loudly around the cave as two figures walked steadily deeper into the darkness. After a few minutes, they stopped before an opening, which opened up into a huge cavern.
"Why did you bring him here, Tatsuo?" The loud voice echoed through the dark cavern. Immediately, a flurry of noise greeted this revelation… revealing a gathering of less than a hundred figures in the area.
"He said he could help us." The voice that answered was filled with slight defiance, as one of the two figures named Tatsuo stepped forward.
"Nothing can help us anymore… we are doomed!" An angry voice rang out in the cavern as indignant shouts broke out over the darkness.
"It is that very perception you have… that impedes your clan from power, and what should rightfully be yours."
The noise abruptly stopped at the smooth, cold voice. All eyes turned to the second figure, who had stood motionless at the mouth of the cavern.
"It is not your business to meddle in the Ishikawa clan!"
"And I shall add… the almost extinct Ishikawa clan." The newcomer answered again.
A figure from the crowd angrily threw himself forward, only to be stopped by Tatsuo. "Easy." The Incubus turned as he watched the figure next to him move forward to address the demons present.
"I am not here to patronize, or antagonize any of you. I am here… with a mutual proposition."
"What is it?" One of the Ishikawa demons asked.
"To take down our mutual enemy… the Kuchiki clan."
A huge commotion greeted these words but the figure remained unaffected.
"You all once ruled your turf like kings, Gods even. Just a single attack, a moment of lapse… and you all become like this… nothing more than rats in a sewer."
Tatsuo had to hold back the same member who once again had a violent reaction.
"I will be honest… I was surprised at how easily they wiped out your clan that day. I, however, can tell you that you all do not belong here. You belong up there in the ranks… right on top of them."
A murmur of assent rippled through the crowd.
"Kokutai." The cold voice whispered the single word.
"To be described in just one word, it means sovereignty. An emperor over his subjects, a lion over members of his pack." Silence as every word rang in the cavern, crystal clear.
"And a ritual… for us demons." The figure walked out into the center of the demons. "We are no longer alien to this ritual. The leader of the demon clan, on his weakest day, channels that weakness to his underlings in order to absorb their energy and upon the completion of the ritual, emerge as a stronger and more powerful demon. He becomes mortal only on his Purification Period day, so the Kokutai ritual can only be performed on this day. And on this day, all the subjects allow themselves to share the similar mortality risk just for their leader… and to increase his power at the end of it. We pray to our Gods and offer them offerings, worshiping their greatness... so they can bless us all in turn. It is the same concept here. Sovereignty, so to speak."
The figure stopped for a moment, as if weighing his words.
"The Kuchiki clan has long practiced this ritual as did many other demon clans… until the death of Kuchiki Soujun and his wife by the hands of an enemy clan during one such ritual. And when their heir, Kuchiki Byakuya, came of age, he threw out this method from the clan and instead, targeted the opposing leaders whenever they performed this ritual. Thus, by making the incredible choice of deserting the method, Kokutai became their arsenal." Every demon listened to the stranger, and his words.
"I would not lie. Kuchiki Byakuya is the most powerful Incubus to lead the Kuchiki clan, and may well be the most powerful demon to walk Earth ever since his birth six hundred years ago. He has not performed the Kokutai ritual once throughout his life, and yet remains at the peak of his strength and agility. How he managed to be so… remains a well-protected secret."
The Ishikawa demons were muttering among themselves, their eyes wary.
"And this is where I come in. I have been watching the Kuchiki clan for decades now… waiting. I have observed them, studied their ways deeper than anyone ever has, and bided my time. And I have caught wind of information on Kuchiki Byakuya's possible Purification Period, which looms closer as I speak." A flurry of noise greeted this statement.
"And another key piece of information… which I believe is of paramount importance, perhaps even more useful than his own mortality date." This time, the excitement was prominent among the demons.
The figure turned back to the mouth of the cavern. "You need the power, you need wider hunting grounds." The shadows played on the rotten bones of a human corpse. "You need your lives back."
Slowly, he turned to face the Ishikawa clan.
"Therefore… you need me."
xXxXx
"Miko, some more coffee." Byakuya moved the papers to one side, before retrieving a thick black folder of documents. He rifled through them for a few seconds before extracting a single sheet of paper and holding it out to his secretary, without even glancing at her. "And send this off to Sato."
"Hai, Mister Kuchiki." The figure in front of his desk retreated.
Byakuya leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes for a second, allowing his mind a moment's rest from work. There were so many things to oversee, the renovation of one of their branch hotels down in Kyoto, the Seattle branch expansion, and plans to improve upon the exterior of their very own mother Azaris hotel.
The grey eyes opened slightly as the office phone rang.
"Kuchiki Byakuya speaking."
"Hey, Byakuya!"
"What is it... Abarai?"
"I've just gotten one of the phone calls from the Cifer representative. Bastard's been jamming my phone lines with calls three times a day for a week now." His right-hand assistant sounded almost as irritable as Byakuya himself. "Said their president Ulquiorra is requesting a personal talk with you."
"Did he mention what it was about?"
"No. Only that they hope for your reply soon."
"Ignore it then." Byakuya's voice was cold. "I believe they would only be promoting benefit talks on our territorial grounds, which I have no intention on compromising with any party."
"Okay. Hey, you want to go out for a male-only snooker competition today? I guarantee there will not be any sexy strippers there, I know your stupid aversion to females these days… save for Rukia."
"No, thank you."
"Or you can bring Rukia along! You know, impress her with your cue balls?"
Byakuya resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "No, Abarai." He hung up the phone just as his secretary buzzed in his suite with a tray of coffee pot and cup.
"Mister Kuchiki."
Byakuya nodded and returned his gaze to his documents, as his secretary Miko poured out a cup of coffee in front of him. After five full minutes, Byakuya realized (to his annoyance) that she was still right in front of him. When he looked up, he noticed that his secretary bent forward on his desk, giving him ample sight of her cleavage which was exposed to their maximum limits by the tight scooped-out neckline blouse.
She had already finished pouring his coffee a long while ago, and was just waiting for him to notice her.
"Is there anything else I can get you, Mister Kuchiki?" Her voice was a sexy purr, or at least, what she intended for it to sound like.
Byakuya felt a ripple of anger go through him. Why was everyone testing his patience today? The young executive made do with shaking his head. As his secretary exited the office with a slightly crestfallen look, Byakuya turned back to the paperwork.
The office phone rang again. He picked it up, thinking that it was Renji with yet another complaint. "What is it?"
"Moshi moshi!"
The grey eyes shot open, a small smile immediately forming on Byakuya's lips as he recognized that sweet, sweet voice. "Rukia," Byakuya spoke, his heavy mood immediately starting to lift.
"What's with the earlier tone of voice?" He heard Rukia chuckle on the line. "You sounded like my high-school discipline teacher."
"I see." Byakuya chuckled softly. "How are you today?"
"Oh… everything's good. You?"
"I am doing the usual paperwork for the company. Renovations, market expansion, departmental shifts," Byakuya replied.
"Oh… that's good." He heard her pause on the line. "But actually… I wanted to ask if you are free this coming Friday… and er, the following Saturday…"
Byakuya listened to Rukia with a smile on his lips, his curiosity growing. Rukia was always so uncomfortable like this… whenever she was asking him to spend time with her. Didn't she know that spending time with her was his most favourite thing to do?
"What are we doing?" Byakuya asked naturally. It was always going to be a given that he would drop everything to go to her side.
"Oh. I… Otousan has a company trip again this weekend, you should see him…" Rukia giggled slightly. "He's so energetic, he's almost infectious." Byakuya smiled again as he listened to the happiness in Rukia's voice. "I took him to the hospital just now to have a regular medical check-up, just in case. Everything looks fine so I allowed him to go on the trip." She laughed again. "So… I'm going to lock up the house on Friday night and head to my dormitory for the weekend, because I might be going in the lab on Saturday or Sunday. Otousan will contact me there for the next two days."
"I see." She still hadn't told him anything about their plans.
"And well,… Nel isn't going to be home because Grimmjow is taking her out camping for the weekend. So I…"
Byakuya felt his heart start to beat a little faster at the realization.
"I... I think you have never been properly inside my dorm apartment before… so I thought maybe you would like to drop by. A-A sleepover, even…" Byakuya heard the adorable flustered tone on the line. "… but of course, I know you might have more important things to do and I underst-"
"What time can I come over on Friday? I will bring a sleeping bag."
Rukia's eyes widened as she heard the simple question. She had been working up the courage to ask Byakuya about this ever since she discovered she was going to be alone in her dorm for the weekend. It was going to be so embarrassing, how could she even begin to ask something of such a suggestive nature? Come over, and sleep at her place? Even before she took up her mobile phone to call Byakuya, her cheeks had already heated up.
But she did want him to come over very much, and sleep at her dorm. Rukia thought it would be a lot of fun, and she would get to spend time with Byakuya. She could cook lunch and dinner, and then they could curl up on the couch and watch a movie or two together. Or play games, or head down to the local bistro for a bite to eat. Or take two bicycles (hers and Nel's) to cycle in the park or forest reserve in the campus. Or… he could even help her in the laboratory…
'You are so boring, Ukitake Rukia!' Rukia chided herself. But she did want to spend time with her boyfriend, and it didn't really matter what they were doing, as long as they were doing it together. Byakuya was a very interesting person to talk to, and she loved spending her time with him.
And at the end of the day, both of you will always wind up…
Rukia pushed the sneaky little voice at the back of her head away. But it was true on many occasions... Byakuya was very physically intimate with her. He loved touching her, though Rukia would be lying if she said she did not enjoy his contact. Being with Byakuya… it always felt like it was more to passionate love, rather than plain sex out of lust. Rukia did not know if she was just imagining it like that… but she loved the tenderness behind his hooded eyes when they made love, his arms that locked hers firmly above her head but yet gently so, his hoarse voice whispering her name with need. And he had made her feel like no other man had made her feel before. Rukia didn't really know much about sex (well, the physical and anatomical aspects she did know), but amid all this… she felt something was just a little strange whenever they made love. It was probably due to her inexperience, but she still couldn't quite put her thumb on it.
"Rukia?" The deep voice jolted Rukia from her thoughts. Byakuya was still on the phone with her!
Recovering, Rukia hurriedly answered him. "Would five be good?"
"Five is perfect."
xXxXx
"Byakuya…" Rukia's voice was conflicted, her hand just brushing the long strands of his hair at the collar, torn between stopping him… and deliciously weaving her fingers through them to egg him on.
"What is it?" Byakuya's voice was a low whisper and Rukia felt him lick her ear, immediately making her knees go weak. Byakuya knew how to pull her strings, and he was pulling them… sensually as he always did.
"I…"
It had been a perfect Friday night. Rukia had placed the carrot cake in the oven to bake for dessert just as the doorbell rang. She had opened the door happily to greet a smiling Byakuya, who was dressed in a white-and-blue striped collared shirt with black pants, and carrying a bag easily over his right shoulder.
Rukia had worked earlier in the living room, cleaning up the table and couch, and sending the fresh undergarments hanging everywhere back to her careless housemate's bedroom. She had also cleaned up her own room so the dorm would not appear too cluttered or messy.
Byakuya did not seem to mind. He had walked in the door easily and taken in the apartment with a fond smile on his face, as if remembering a very memorable event that had happened here. As Rukia set the table for dinner, he had walked into her bedroom before emerging from it minutes later with a small silver photo frame, saying "I'm glad you still keep me by your bedside." Rukia had then blushed and snatched the photo frame (which contained the booth photos of Byakuya and herself when they had gone to the funfair) out of Byakuya's hands before ushering him to the table to sit.
Dinner had been a wonderful affair, and Rukia found out more about Byakuya's background and his circle of family and friends. His grandfather was still away on holiday, he did not trust Gin (as Rangiku-san had once told her, though Rukia did not mention this to Byakuya), and Unohana-sensei was apparently more than a family doctor and held a senior executive role in Azaris. There were times when Byakuya did not seem to answer the question as directly as he did others, but Rukia understood and did not press the matter. But the conversation was lovely, they laughed, they smiled, they even finished the carrot cake as they talked.
After they had had dinner, Rukia took out the DVD rack so Byakuya could choose a movie to watch. However, when that particular DVD was placed into the player, it refused to play and Rukia found out that the player had been broken weeks ago. To make matter worse, it suddenly started to rain and any possible suggestion of heading outside for supper or a drink or even a late night walk was rendered unfeasible.
"How about a game of Scrabble?" Rukia's eyes had widened at Byakuya's suggestion. "I saw an Onyx classic on your bedroom rack just now, I don't have that edition at home."
"O-Oh. Okay." Rukia had smiled, surprised and a little bemused that Byakuya could suggest something so old-fashioned. She then made them hot chamomile tea in the kitchen as Byakuya entered the bedroom to set the board on the carpeted floor. Then as it rained outside, Rukia curled up in her warm comforter with a warm cup of tea in her hand as she played the word game with Byakuya, who sat easily on the floor with a zipped-up jacket and his own cup of warmth.
It had been funny. Byakuya proved to be very capable at making up classy words and never chose ordinary words to form on the board. Though she was impressed, Rukia wasn't one to be outdone either. But then as time passed, Byakuya started to pay more attention to her than the silver-toned grid itself, his intense grey-eyed gaze causing her to feel more flustered than ever.
"Byakuya… it's your turn," Rukia had spoken up, as she caught him looking at her again after she successfully formed a difficult word on the board. He did not even bother looking away. Rukia felt her cheeks warm up, and she knew it had nothing to do with the chamomile tea.
"Is it?" Byakuya had asked in his deep voice and Rukia nodded, before dropping her eyes and reaching for the bag containing the letter tiles. At the same time, a pale hand reached out for the bag simultaneously, and Byakuya's hand brushed easily against Rukia's.
Rukia's breath caught slightly.
"I was missing a tile," Byakuya smiled easily at her before retrieving a white piece and putting it into the stack of tiles on his side. As his grey eyes scanned the available letters, Rukia looked up at him timidly in time to see a smile flit across his lips as he finished deciding on a word.
The word he chose to spell out on the board was 'Passion'.
The game then became harder on an altogether different perspective, with Rukia's cheeks becoming warmer. After a consecutive string of words such as 'Desirous', 'Lovelorn' and 'Hunger' from Byakuya, Rukia wondered if the air in the room was making it very hard to breathe… or it was her own psychological reaction to the signs now coming from Byakuya. And as she looked down at her own letter tiles, Rukia realized in a heartstopping moment that there was only one word she could form with the tiles.
Erotic.
The moment she did and looked up to catch the mischievous glint in Byakuya's eyes, he pounced on her.
His kisses had always caught her off-guard, always made her forget about everything and everyone… except for him. And as his lips parted hers, Rukia was only aware of Byakuya as he moved forward and pressed her down onto the bed. He climbed on top of her, effectively cutting off any escape routes and continued to torment her with those sweet teasing kisses, dropping them everywhere over her nose, jawline and lips.
"Byakuya…" This time, Rukia tried to make her voice a little more firm.
"Yes?" She felt his lips press against her neck and then his teeth grazed the sensitive skin slightly, and Rukia had to stifle a moan.
"Y… you brought a sleeping bag," She tried to point out halfheartedly. 'To hell with the sleeping bag!' her body was screaming out.
"It was only for show." Byakuya's voice was husky and Rukia felt his warm hands start to move up higher under her blouse. "I knew it was going to be left unused."
He was really such a cunning man.
"I…"
"Erotic…" Byakuya chuckled softly, and the warm air from his mouth blew across Rukia's lips, making her whole body tingle. In spite of herself, Rukia felt her eyes start to slide close. "You could not have used a better word."
"I…" Rukia opened her eyes and caught sight of the clock on the wall in front of her. It was midnight, and she watched the clock struck the precise hour. It was her usual bedtime by now, where she would start to...
And Rukia finally realized what the strange thing was all about.
"I…" Byakuya drew back slightly as he felt Rukia start to shift a bit more forcefully against him. He moved back to look into her eyes, and saw her timid expression.
"Rukia, what's wrong?"
Her voice was very soft, and sounded rather guilty as she replied him. "Is it okay… if we… don't do it today?"
The misty grey eyes widened slightly, and his hands ceased their groping, though they still remained around her body.
"I… am sorry. It's just… I find myself very tired the morning after and I wanted to go in the lab tomorrow…" Rukia's voice sounded shy and embarrased. "I guess I'm just inexperienced, that I can't take the physical aspects as I should. I…" Rukia bowed her head down, too embarrassed to look at him. This was horrible! Byakuya was definitely in the mood (he always was), and she was ruining this for him!
But she had realized something… that she was always so tired and lethargic after they made love. She would always doze off somehow, and wake up initially not knowing where she was. Rukia remained motionless against Byakuya, waiting for his response.
Was he angry? Disappointed?
When he did not say anything (though he did not let her go as well), Rukia opened her mouth. "I… I'm so sorry I-"
"Don't say that." Rukia gasped as she felt Byakuya pull her closer to him so her head touched his chest. "Never say that you are sorry… for you have done nothing wrong."
"No… I-"
Rukia heard a deep chuckle from Byakuya. "Rukia." He drew back slightly to look down at her. "I don't have to make love to you everyday, even though I might want to." Her eyes widened but Byakuya looked back at Rukia steadily, as he traced a finger across her lips. "I am just as happy to cuddle with you in bed like this."
"I…" Rukia's eyes softened. "I… Arigato."
"Now who's the silly one?" Byakuya dropped a gentle kiss on the top of Rukia's head as his arms tightened around her. Reaching downward, his right arm grabbed the blankets before pulling the covers up over both of them.
The two lovers lay in bed in each other's arms as they listened to the harmonious sound of rain pattering against the windows.
"It's raining, Byakuya."
"Ah. Are you warm enough?"
"Very." Rukia shifted slightly, and linked her own arms around Byakuya. "Are you?"
"I just got warmer."
The soft, small chuckle made its way out from Rukia's mouth, and Byakuya smiled as he closed his eyes.
"Byakuya?"
"Hmmm?"
"I'm sorry."
"If you say sorry one more time, I'm going to kiss you hard. One more sorry, and I will strip both of us down."
Byakuya heard Rukia chuckle again, before he felt the small figure move even closer to him.
The Incubus slowly opened his eyes, as the demonic silver danced in his irises. After a while, he closed them again… and allowed himself to drift to sleep.
No, I am sorry, Rukia.
xXxXx
There you have it, still not much major events going on. This chapter is needed though... to lay foundation for future events. ;) But the drama/action will take the spotlight for the next chapter, if all goes well! :D
Naughty Byakuya... and his unused sleeping bag. XD Once again, I really do like writing Demons, it is a lot of fun and very experimental writing. For one, I've always visualized a Scrabble scene which I could turn into a naughty scene and I finally get the chance to in this chapter. :D So they are being as lovable as ever, ByaRuki... some evil plot taking place, and Rukia slowly starts to pinpoint some strange things in her happy life. Also, there are some explanations about the Incubus life, their procreation and a new magical ritual (once again, just a result of my 'fabrication') . :)
I hope you enjoyed the chapter and do drop me a review to let me know how it was. :) Opinions, critiques, suggestions, I welcome them in the spirit of being a better writer.
ByaRuki love.