Hello there, it's evenstar lady with another Demons chapter. :) I was in Seoul for holidays the last week, and before that, I had my interview for entry to the hospital, and then there was my cousin's wedding... so I was pretty busy the whole month of September. Today I had some time to write so I actually managed to whip this chapter up from scratch (and feeling rather proud of myself) :D
In the light of a flood of PMs from readers, I would like to state here very clearly that I will NOT be updating the 'Emperor' fic anymore or any fics other than Demons. I don't even know if I will be able to finish Demons, and I'm currently doing the best I can, on top of other commitments I already have. I hope you will not blame me if I end up not finishing this fic anyway, but do know that I am and will try my best. I also have other things to do in my life than just writing fanfics... and I hope readers can understand this. I'm not paid to do this, I do this purely for my leisure and for sharing with you all.
I don't have much time now that I've had my job interview and once I take up residency at one hospital, my spare writing time will probably be reduced to nil. But as I said, I will write when I can. :)
Now back to this chapter, I hope you will enjoy it, it is after all, post- ByaRuki reunion. ;) On a sidenote, Seoul city is absolutely fantastic!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach, but I own this story.
They walked out of the church together, the evening sun rays playing on their intertwined fingers…
Rukia was in a daze, everything did not seem real. It all seemed like a dream as she walked down the church steps, hand-in-hand with Byakuya who was still wearing his bridegroom suit. It all seemed like a dream as she got into his Porsche and he drove them away from the church.
"You don't have to carry me."
And right now, his strong arms were around her as he firmly carried her up the steps to his apartment suite. Ignoring Rukia's protest, Byakuya silently stepped into the elevator as the silver doors slid open.
"Byakuya, you don't have to carry me." Rukia tried again.
Byakuya's expression remained emotionless as his eyes stayed on the elevator panel, it seemed as if he was lost in thought. As Rukia wondered if he was ever going to answer her, the Incubus finally spoke, "I have to."
His hands tightened around her body. "Because something might jump out and snatch you from my arms once again."
Rukia's eyes widened but before she could say anything, the elevator doors slid open and Byakuya carried Rukia into the familiar living room of his apartment suite. The Incubus gently lowered her onto the white chaise lounge before kneeling in front of her. Even on his knees, the Incubus was eye level with the human girl.
Slowly, Byakuya reached out and touched Rukia's left cheek with his right palm.
"Maybe this is a dream," Byakuya spoke, his voice deep. "Maybe I am about to wake up now, and then drink more wine to stop the pain once again."
Rukia leaned into the warmth of Byakuya's hand for a bit, closing her eyes. Then she did something that caught the Incubus off-guard, Rukia leaned forward and kissed Byakuya squarely on the mouth. Byakuya's grey eyes widened momentarily but he soon closed them, naturally responding to the irresistible touch of his lover's lips upon his. Byakuya's hand moved to hold the back of Rukia's neck, as he moved his lips gently at first, then more urgently, against Rukia's.
How long had it been since he had last kissed her? How long had he suffered, only dreaming of tasting them once more as a very sweet impossibility?
It felt like an eternity, like he had spent centuries staring through the unbreakable glass at the treasure he had yearned for, knowing he could never have it. All the pent-up feelings only served to make the kiss more explosive.
Byakuya ran his tongue along Rukia's lips and she parted them willingly, allowing him access to her mouth. He was bending slightly over Rukia now, pushing her back onto the chaise lounge. One hand cupped her neck, the other was moving over her curves, stopping to caress her thigh. Rukia hooked both arms around the Incubus's neck, pressing her body whole into his. He pulled her possessively to him, and she surged up easily to meet him.
They kissed fiercely, trying to show each other who wanted the other most. Their tongues entwined and twin moans escaped from both Rukia and Byakuya's throats.
They only broke the passionate kiss when the need for air became too unbearable.
"Still a dream?" Rukia murmured, trying to calm her hard breathing.
Byakuya's answer was another quick kiss stolen from her lips.
"It should be me who's dreaming," Rukia continued in a soft tone. "I stole someone else's bridegroom." The subtle tinge of guilt blended in her whispered voice.
"It is not stealing."
Rukia looked up at Byakuya's voice. He was staring intently at her. "It is not stealing, if what you took was not hers to begin with. It is farthest from stealing, if what you took was something of yours."
Rukia's eyes widened but Byakuya only gave her a gentle smile, a smile granted so rarely to anyone. Before she could say anything, the Incubus stood up and walked over to one of the antique cabinets in the living room. Rukia watched as he opened the glass door and extracted a huge brown leather-bound book. He returned to her and placed the book in her lap, before positioning himself next to her on the chaise lounge.
"Oh?" Rukia stared at the book. The cover was unremarkable, just a blank brown cover with a single sakura pattern at the bottom right.
"Open it."
Rukia did as Byakuya had instructed her and opened the first page. The paper was apparently very old but well-preserved. Rukia stared at the first page, which consisted of beautiful handwritten characters.
Kuchiki Byakuya.
"That was my handwriting when I was three."
Rukia's eyes widened as she touched the neat characters with her finger. "You could write so well when you were three?"
Byakuya smiled as he bent over the book with Rukia. "Demons and humans are very different. Demons start maturing fast in the womb, double the speed of a human foetus. Despite this, our appearance is much younger in comparison to a human of a similar age. A three-year-old demon might look like a one-year-old infant, even a newborn. It is near our twenties that we completely stop aging, and won't show signs of growing older until the next hundred years or if we acquire combat skills by training hard." Byakuya nodded at the book. "But even though we look younger, our skills and abilities have far outstripped a similar-aged human."
Rukia nodded and smiled, turning the page. It was difficult to imagine a baby Byakuya writing such beautiful kanji against a piece of paper.
The next page made Rukia gasp in delight, as they were old black-and-white photos of an infant Byakuya. "You look so cute!" Rukia chuckled. The baby Byakuya was so adorable with big eyes as it looked straight into the camera.
"I already knew the purpose of the camera then," Byakuya commented, prompting Rukia to burst out laughing.
Rukia stared at the next page, which showed a handsome man and an extremely beautiful woman standing close together, smiling for the camera. The man was handsome, with a very soft expression. The woman was very elegant with long hair and piercing eyes. Rukia soon understood why they looked familiar to her. "Your parents."
Byakuya nodded as he gazed at the old photos.
"You look very much like your father." Rukia smiled. "But your eyes and facial expression are your mother's."
Byakuya smiled. "I did not have the time to know them. They died in an attack by another clan. My grandfather arrived in time to save only me."
Rukia touched Byakuya's hand, covering it with hers.
Byakuya shook his head, his hair falling over his left eye. "My father was sickly, even for an Incubus. So my grandfather decided to use an ancient method to restore strength and health to my father, but it required that all members of our clan become vulnerable for a single day. If it succeeded, my father would emerge a stronger and healthier demon."
"Vulnerable? As in, lose your immortality?"
Byakuya nodded. "It is a sort of loaning process to the leader, my father. If it succeeded, no one's immortality would be affected and he would become stronger."
"But the enemy found out somehow."
Again, Byakuya nodded. "Apparently, their spies were effective. They sent an army to the place where our clan was undergoing the ritual and slaughtered most of our people. My grandfather had been away with another part of the clan and returned only in time to save me." Byakuya's eyes hardened slightly. "I dealt away with that practice when I came into power."
Rukia nodded and turned back to the photo of Byakuya's parents. "They would have been proud of you." She smiled softly.
"And they would have loved you," Byakuya replied and Rukia turned to him in surprise. The Incubus only smiled serenely and reached over to turn the page.
"You already grew your hair out when you were an adolescent." Rukia smiled at the photos of a handsome teenaged Byakuya shouting at the camera. "And somehow, the general behaviour seems different from the current one." She could not help the teasing, the difference really was remarkable.
Byakuya smiled, indulgent in his lover's mischievous tone of voice. He wrapped his arms around Rukia and gestured to her to keep turning the page.
Byakuya could hardly believe this was real.
He talked to Rukia for hours and they had moved to lie in each other's arms on the chaise lounge, the photo book in Rukia's hands. He told her about his background, his parents and family… with Rukia's bright violet eyes holding the most adorable shade of interest.
This was truly him… and she loved him regardless. Byakuya felt as if his heart would explode from the warmth and happiness.
"I used to enjoy life when I was younger." Byakuya murmured against Rukia's hair as he stared at the photos. "I used to enjoy the festivals and my everyday life. I was very hotheaded and stubborn. But somehow as I grew up and the responsibility of the Kuchiki clan leadership fell onto my shoulders, all of that started disappearing."
Rukia looked up at Byakuya in surprise.
"I had to work hard, and live up to all the expectations. There should not be any rest, or time to indulge in happy moments. There was only perfection, and I had to achieve that. And after I did… there was nothing else left anymore. Nothing seemed to matter anymore."
Byakuya gently brushed a kiss on the top of Rukia's head. "Until I spontaneously demanded a virgin on one night to Aiko's. She was clumsy, jittery, honest. She was beautiful. And I slowly realized that she started to matter to me."
Rukia nestled closer into Byakuya's embrace. "Lucky girl."
Byakuya pulled back from Rukia slightly and she looked up, confused. The Incubus was staring intently at her now with misty grey eyes.
"Rukia… did you mean what you said? That you dared to dream about the future sometimes, that it would have been nice… to be married to me?"
Rukia's shy smile greeted his words. "People don't lie in churches."
"I cannot give you the married life you dreamed of, Rukia. The married life you so deserve." Rukia's wide eyes looked up at Byakuya, only to be met with serious grey ones. "I cannot give you children."
Rukia's surprised expression slowly gave way into a smile. "I know."
This time, it was Byakuya's face that betrayed the surprise. "You do?"
Rukia nodded. "Renji and Rangiku told me all about it, as they drove me to the church. They said humans and demons are very different, and that it is near impossible to produce offspring of both bloods."
"And you would have me, even so?"
Rukia smiled and rested her head against Byakuya's chest. "What am I doing here, if not?"
Byakuya dared to hope. He knew he was a damned creature and something so forsaken, it was heaven that the one woman he had fallen in love with had loved him back. He knew he shouldn't want for more, or even wish for more.
Marriage was something he had never given much thought to before. But someday, he wanted to marry Rukia, as impossible as it sounded. One day he would ask her to marry him and if she said no, he was content enough to be together with her. If she said yes, he would make sure everyday she spent as his wife would be her happiest. Byakuya had given up on rationale, he would be as selfish as he could.
His feelings for Rukia had grown over time, only growing more intense and stronger everyday. Byakuya was no fool, he knew Rukia was his one soulmate and he was never going to let her slip away again. Marriage was the only way to seal their union and make her his formally and forevermore.
One day, Rukia… I will…
But today, he was content to be in her arms like this.
"Arigato, Rukia." Byakuya whispered into her ear. He shifted his arm around her waist slightly. "About children, we can get a man-"
Rukia suddenly pushed out violently against Byakuya. He looked down to see her offended expression. "What do you mean, get a man? I'm not going to… to you-know-what with another man… just for a child!"
"Shhhh…" Byakuya's hands tightened around Rukia as he chuckled softly. "I wasn't talking about that, I was about to point out the possibility of artificial insemination. As long as the child shares your blood, I'm sure I will be able to love it as my own." Byakuya bent over to whisper into Rukia's ear. "I would never consider the possibility of having you impregnated the normal way by another man. Because I would have to kill him then." The Incubus kissed Rukia's earlobe, causing her to shiver in pleasure. "No man is allowed to touch you the way I do, kiss you the way I do… or make love to you the way I do."
Rukia felt the warmth flood her cheeks and she ducked her head, hiding it against Byakuya's chest. She looked up in concern after a while. "Are you hungry? Maybe we should-"
"No." Byakuya's arms tightened around her, as he buried his face into her hair. "I am fine, and I really like it like this. There is so much I want to tell you."
Rukia smiled. "Okay." She covered Byakuya's hands with her left hand, and resumed turning the pages in the photo book.
xXxXx
Unohana sat at her office suite, staring at the gold antique wall clock. It was midnight, but she couldn't bring herself to go home.
The Succubus flashed on the determined expression of the human girl Rukia as she stood defiantly in the church to fight for the one she loved, and at how fast Byakuya had moved in her direction to abandon everything for the one he loved.
Time really had passed…
She didn't even have a photograph of the one she loved. When she had abandoned him, she hadn't taken anything with her. She had left all their memories and keepsakes behind, and a cowardly letter to tell him to forget her. He apparently did, because he never came after her. He would have married, and died peacefully with a family he so loved.
Unohana suppressed the sudden wave of bitter sadness that gnawed at her insides. It had been her own choice, so she would have to live with it forever.
Beep beep.
Unohana stared at the office phone that had begun to light up. She had earlier placed a call to the resort where Kuchiki Ginrei had been staying for the past half year, to tell him that Byakuya's wedding to Hisana had been cancelled. The Succubus had left out the reason, preferring to allow Ginrei to believe that Hisana had cancelled the wedding on her own will.
"Hello, Unohana Retsu speaking."
"Hello, Miss Unohana. I'm Sora, one of the resort attendants to Mister Kuchiki Ginrei."
"Yes, Miss Sora?"
"I was notified of your voice mail to Mister Kuchiki Ginrei today. But he will not be receiving it."
"And why is that?"
Sora's voice was baffled. "Because Mister Kuchiki Ginrei had already left for Tokyo a month ago. Had he not informed you?"
Unohana dropped the phone in shock, her blue eyes wide.
xXxXx
"B-Bya…" Rukia mumbled the first thing that came into her mind as her sleep-fuzzled brain tried to comprehend her surroundings.
She felt a strong arm squeeze her waist slightly, pulling her closer to the warm body next to her.
"Yes?" His voice was deep and gentle.
"I…" Rukia's eyes slowly focused on Byakuya, who was smiling down at her. She registered that she was lying on a black bed, with sunlight spilling in through the expensive curtains.
Byakuya's bedroom.
"I am sorry for not waking you," Byakuya kissed Rukia's forehead gently. "You fell asleep near the end of the photo album, so I carried you upstairs."
"O-Oh." Rukia nodded, still a little groggy. She moved to sit up, as Byakuya did the same. His bedroom was still the same since the last time she had been in it.
"Shall we take a morning shower together?" Byakuya asked gently, his grey eyes misty.
"Ah…" Rukia blushed slightly at the suggestive question. "I… why?"
An easy smile graced the Incubus's lips. "Because we had never done so before."
Feeling awkward, Rukia placed her toothbrush back into the clear glass on the sink. She had just finished brushing her teeth, and was now faced with the huge marble bathroom and a bath companion who was now gazing intently at her.
"Er, I…" Rukia touched her dress, unsure of what to do next.
"We shall use the shower," Byakuya spoke, his expression emotionless. Rukia had been half-hoping that he would say the jacuzzi, because then she would be hidden underneath the water and white foam.
The shower was just… open.
Why did I agree to this?
Byakuya smiled softly at Rukia and reached for his shirt. Rukia automatically averted her gaze, a blush colouring her cheeks.
What is wrong with me?
She walked toward the sink, further away from Byakuya and the glass shower stall, pretending to be incredibly interested in the bottles of shampoo near the sink. Even so, she could hear every rustle of clothing as Byakuya undressed himself. Soon enough, Rukia heard the sound of the shower glass door sliding open, and the sound of the shower being turned on.
Waiting another minute to be safe, Rukia slowly turned in the direction of the glass shower. Foggy mist now clouded the shower stall, obscuring the lean figure that was Byakuya from her view. He had apparently turned on the hot water.
Rukia walked forward tentatively and stared at the silver hooks where Byakuya had neatly hung his clothing up on. Rukia reached for her dress and slowly began to undress.
After clumsily ridding herself of her clothing, Rukia pushed the glass door open and entered the shower. The hot mist was rather thick in the wide shower stall, she could only make out Byakuya's figure faintly. Rukia jumped slightly as she stepped into the shower of water coming from the rain shower head above her. The water was warm, not too hot nor cold.
"You took quite some time getting into the shower." The deep voice spoke behind her, and Rukia whirled around.
Rukia was glad that the shower stall was rather foggy, because it obscured most of her body from view. Not that Byakuya hadn't seen it all already. His grey eyes stayed on her face however, as he smiled.
"Come." Byakuya reached out and led Rukia one step away from the shower of water. "I will wash your hair for you."
"Huh? Ah… I can do it by myself. Thank you." Rukia hurriedly looked up.
"I insist, Rukia." Byakuya's grey eyes were misty as he looked down at her, and Rukia felt as if he was hypnotizing her in the mist in the shower stall.
"I…"
Byakuya only smiled as he reached for a bottle of shampoo on its holder. He lathered a generous amount on his hands. "Turn around." His voice was deep.
Rukia turned around, half glad to hide her front to him. She felt Byakuya step up behind her and his gentle hands touched her hair. Slowly, they began to massage the shampoo into her scalp in slow soothing motions.
"I…" Rukia was blushing slightly. The last time somebody else washed her hair for her was when she was little, when Otousan had brought her back from the orphanage and bathed her in the bathroom. Rukia remembered how nice and gentle his hands on her head were then, as she stared in fascination at the bubbles in the bath.
Now, Byakuya's hands felt equally, if not more, nice and gentle…
Slow… slow…
Rukia did not realize that she had leaned back into Byakuya's body until she felt his skin touch her back. She immediately jumped forward, her eyes wide. "I'm sorry-"
"It is alright, Rukia." Byakuya's voice was unaffected, though a slight tone of amusement danced in his baritone. "You may lean on me."
"Ah…" Rukia looked in front of her, her hands at her sides.
No more was said as Byakuya continued to wash Rukia's hair. The Incubus lifted one of the smaller side showers from the wall and slowly rinsed Rukia's hair out. The mist hovered around them, warm and comfortable.
Rukia fell into a hazy daze again, only aware of Byakuya's gentle massaging hands in her hair as the warm water streamed down her bare back. She slowly closed her eyes, basking in the relaxing atmosphere.
Slow… and so comfortable…
Rukia's eyes shot open, however, as she felt Byakuya's warm hand trail down over her neck to her shoulder. "Bya… kuya?" Rukia began, still not turning around to face him.
"Relax…" Byakuya's voice was deep. "I'm using body shampoo now."
Body shampoo? Does that mean he was going to…
"Relax, Rukia…" Byakuya's voice whispered into her ear, and Rukia felt the warm breath fan her earlobe. He had leaned in close to her from behind. "You are so stiff."
"I-" Rukia sharply inhaled at that moment, as she felt Byakuya's lips move to the sensitive spot under her ears, planting a kiss there. His soapy arms moved down her arms to the curve of her waist, lathering foam all the way.
"Shhhh…" Byakuya's voice was husky this time, as he trailed his lips down Rukia's neck and left shoulder. His hands moved from her waist to her hips and thighs and then boldly inward. Rukia bit back a moan as he slipped one slippery hand between her legs, touching her at the place only he had touched before.
"Bya… ku…" Rukia could not hold in her moan this time as he boldly caressed her between her legs with one hand, while the other reached to cup her breast.
"Hmmm?" Byakuya's deep voice was unexpectedly breathy. He sucked on the skin of her neck as he groped further in, sending Rukia to the edge with the foreplay.
Rukia gasped, her breathing was erratic now, as his hands set fire to her body.
"Turn around." Byakuya's voice was slightly hoarse and his hands immediately withdrew from her body. Rukia almost mewled in protest as he stopped his ministrations, but she did as she was told.
The second she turned around, Byakuya hoisted her up gently so her two legs wrapped around his waist. Ignoring Rukia's cry of surprise, the Incubus walked forward to the wall, where the mist from the warm water slowly lifted to reveal a long marble counter built against the wall. It is on the marble counter that Byakuya gently sat Rukia down.
"I…" Rukia's words were once again lost as Byakuya wordlessly kissed her, pressing his naked body against her soapy one. Her hard nipples brushed his chest as he did so, causing the muscles in his abdomen to tighten at the arousing contact. In between their lips, Byakuya suctioned his lover's energy little by little and then slowly performed the Sacred Exchange meant only for the woman he loved. Rukia gasped as he tore his lips away from hers, and trailed kisses to her breasts.
Rukia moaned loudly this time, unrestrained, as Byakuya swirled his tongue over the pink coral before taking one into his mouth. The passion easily came alive to burn, bright and hot, consuming Rukia in need for her lover. Rukia moaned again, threading her fingers through Byakuya's hair as he suckled on her breast.
"I figured I could bathe you more easily in full view of your body," Byakuya murmured as he lifted his mouth from Rukia's chest, his grey eyes taking the time to travel down her body with something akin to hunger in them.
Rukia did not reply, as she gazed at her lover standing in front of her, naked and elegant. When she opened her mouth, the two words spilled from her lips in an anticipatory whisper. "Come here."
Byakuya moved closer as Rukia stood up from the counter. They kissed passionately, their tongues again battling for dominance between closed lips. Rukia's hand slowly began an exploration of their own, touching the wet skin of her lover, tracing the outline of his biceps and then over his abdomen. Byakuya growled contentedly as he kissed her neck, sending tingles through Rukia's spine each time his lips touched her skin.
When Rukia's hand mimicked Byakuya's previous motion downward, she found him hard and very, very aroused.
Byakuya wasted no time after that, he pulled Rukia up so she straddled him and pressed her up against the wet marble wall.
"Enough teasing." Byakuya whispered hoarsely into Rukia's ear… and moved forward in a single motion, sheathing himself full inside of her.
Rukia froze as she moaned in pleasure, her fingers digging into Byakuya's back. It had been too long since they had been joined as one like this, she had forgotten how good he felt inside her.
"Rukia…" Byakuya moaned into her neck as he felt her walls clench around his member tight. So good, she felt too good…
The Incubus began to move in rhythmic thrusts, in and out of his human lover. How soft, how good she felt around him. And her moans… her needy voice calling out his name…
He was always going to want her, always going to need her. It didn't matter how many times he had taken her, she would always be his and his only…
"B-Byakuya…" Rukia's voice was strained as she struggled to hold onto her sanity, Byakuya's movements in and out of her causing her body to scream in extreme pleasure and abandon.
Be mine, oh, be mine…
Byakuya pounded into her, going faster and deeper. He clamped down onto her neck, sucking desperately onto her skin, marking her as hard as he could.
"Byakuya…" Rukia gasped as one of her hands slid higher along the wet marble wall. Her other hand was hooked around Byakuya's shoulder as she straddled him. "I'm going to… going to…"
"Just come with me…" Byakuya's voice was raw with passion as he whispered into Rukia's ear. His thrusts were now wild and erratic in pace, and Rukia knew he was very close, as was she.
"Come with me." His passionate voice whispered a final time and Rukia shuddered and cried out as her body physically submitted to Byakuya's wish. He followed soon after, his body giving out and releasing into Rukia as the mighty Incubus trembled in the arms of his beloved.
Rukia gasped, trying to calm her deep breathing as the orgasmic haze slowly settled around them. Byakuya had not let her go, neither did she disengage from him. They remained in each other's arms against the marble wall, the soft pattering of water from the rain shower overhead echoing in the bathroom.
"Never leave me."
Rukia's eyes widened at the soft whisper at her shoulder, where Byakuya's head was buried in.
"Rukia, do not ever leave me."
He lifted his head to her then, and Rukia saw the vulnerability and slight fear in the usually unreadable eyes of the Incubus. She understood, she knew there were many mountains to scale in future for their love, especially mountains that would soon prove impossible to climb.
It didn't matter, none of it did.
All that mattered was him, and she was with him right now. Nothing else mattered.
Rukia smiled and tightened her arms around Byakuya. "I will always be with you," she whispered back and closed her eyes. He carried her back under the shower then and as the warm water pattered down on them, Byakuya started to make sweet love again to his human soulmate.
xXxXx
Unohana stared at the gate number in front of the two-storey house.
Number thirty-two.
Yes, this was it. This was Rukia's address that Renji had given to her this morning. Unohana had bought a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a bottle of red wine to bring with her to this residence. It was as much a gesture of well wishes as it was an apology.
I hope both of you will make it somehow… and to forgive my foolish judgement.
Straightening her pleated dress skirt, Unohana walked up to the front door and knocked three times. She took a step back and mentally prepared her first few words to say to Rukia.
A key turned in the lock and the door started to open.
Unohana started to smile… and then she saw the person who had opened the door.
Everything evaporated around her immediately, except the man standing in front of her.
How could it be…
She had always wondered bitterly why she had not brought a keepsake with her, something to remind her of the precious memories she had left behind.
How could it be…
Everything came rushing back in an instant. She needed no photographs, she would always remember that face, the precious face she had foolishly abandoned. The sincere smile, the sharp jaw, those soft kind eyes.
Those eyes were wide now, as they stared into her own.
Unohana realized that her empty left hand had lifted reflexively, almost to touch him to make sure that it wasn't all a dream. Her mouth opened, mouthing the name of the man she had thought long dead, the man she had left behind.
The man she had loved.
"Jushiro…"
xXxXx
"Err… you…"
It was after breakfast and Byakuya had suggested a drive around town to show Rukia something. He had unexpectedly brought her to a church and now they were walking up the steps to the sacred doors.
"What I wanted to show you was my true form, Rukia." Byakuya smiled as he allowed Rukia to step in through the doors first.
"Oh?" Rukia asked, bewildered and took his right arm that he offered her.
They walked up the aisle, where the huge cross stood at the front. There was no one around, not even a single priest. When they reached the front, Byakuya reached out a hand toward the cross but Rukia yelped, slapping his hand out of the way.
"Don't touch it!"
"Why?" Byakuya smiled.
"I… well… it's not really public property, you know." Rukia looked down, avoiding his eyes.
"Are you afraid that I might hurt myself by touching something holy?" Byakuya's smile stayed on his face.
Rukia stayed resolutely silent.
"Arigato, Rukia. But do not worry. I can touch any holy cross without exploding into dust or suffering burns." Byakuya stared up at the ceiling, where another cross hung overhead. "It merely makes our true form obvious. Watch."
Byakuya reached out toward the cross, smiling to reassure a nervous Rukia. His long fingers hovered in the air, and then the Incubus leaned forward and touched his hand to the cross.
Rukia's eyes widened.
A pair of enormous dark grey wings appeared behind Byakuya's back, positioned close to one another. They did not have talons or were evil-looking or like any form of demonic wings Rukia could imagine. They were majestic and subtly feathered like angel wings. Byakuya turned to her and Rukia gasped. His pupils were a bright liquid silver.
"We look like one of the good characters, do we not?"
Rukia approached Byakuya in awe as he lowered his eyes back to the cross. She reached out and tentatively touched his wing. It jerked slightly and she drew her hand back.
"Oh! S-Sorry I-"
"I apologize, no one has touched them before." Byakuya explained.
"Kawaii…" Rukia reached out again and placed her palm gently on one wing. It stayed silent and obedient.
Byakuya chuckled softly under his breath. Kawaii? She is really…
Rukia began to stroke his wing softly. Byakuya stiffened slightly, before gradually relaxing in her touch.
"You are…. beautiful…" Rukia murmured softly, as she caressed his wings.
Byakuya reached out to capture Rukia's hand in his. "Nothing compared to my woman." The Incubus bent his head down and brought his lips to hers. "I want God to bear witness that I love this human girl."
Rukia relaxed in his arms and returned the kiss. And I want God to know… I love him, this demon.
Byakuya's wings fluttered slightly behind him as he deepened the kiss. And as Rukia's tongue entwined with his, his wings flared out in full majesty.
xXxXx
"Retsu?" Ukitake's voice was soft, yet filled with shock.
"I…" For a moment, Unohana forgot what she was here for, who she was supposed to be seeing. Gazing into the eyes of her ex-lover, she could not think thoughts or form words. And then her brain finally moved.
"I… I am here to see Rukia."
"Rukia?" Ukitake's expression remained one of surprise. "You want to see my daughter?"
Daughter. So he had a family after all...
"I… yes. I did not know she was your daughter… I just… found out." Unohana tried to smile.
"I see." Ukitake finally smiled, and it was the same smile Unohana had lived with for a short happy period of her life. "It's been a long time, Retsu."
"Long time." Unohana whispered, ignoring the tickle in her throat.
"I'm afraid Rukia is not in at the moment, she hasn't returned home since yesterday. But I'm very sure she will walk in before afternoon, she always does." Ukitake smiled. "Would you like to come in?"
"I… yes. Arigato."
Ukitake smiled and opened the door wider.
Unohana stepped into the house, as Ukitake shut the door behind them.
He hadn't changed one bit. His eyes were still soft, his smile still so kind, his face handsome. His hair had all turned white now, but Unohana wondered why she had been so frightened back then.
He hadn't changed.
Unohana stared at the teddy bear chalkboard hung against the wall near the door. This house was small by normal standards, but it spoke of warmth and comfort of a family. It smelled of love and everything nice and homely.
It was everything she never had… not since she had stupidly chose to let it go when she had it in the palm of her hand.
"This way." Ukitake smiled and politely walked past Unohana, leading the way. She followed him, glancing at the photographs on the wall. They were all of a middle-aged Ukitake and a young black-haired girl, no doubt Rukia.
Where was his wife?
As they arrived at the kitchen, Unohana glanced in, almost expecting to see a beautiful caring woman working at the stove.
There was no one.
"Please." Ukitake motioned to one of the seats at the dining table and Unohana sat down. "Coffee?"
"Yes, please."
Ukitake smiled at her, and turned back to the coffee pot.
He hadn't changed one bit.
Unohana remembered the first day she had met Ukitake, so many years back. She was a medical student working the night shift in the hospital when a new patient came in. Apparently, he had fallen from a tree while rescuing a kitten. Unohana had parted the curtains to find a black-haired handsome man smiling kindly up at her, even though he was in terrible pain and his left foot was bleeding badly. She had worked fast, even though she found it ridiculous that a grown man would go to such lengths to get a kitten down from an extremely dangerous location. He just kept smiling at her.
Soon enough, Unohana found herself strangely attached to the patient in bed 3A. She went to check on him everyday, engaging in interesting conversation topics with the man. He was smart and very gentlemanly, but what drew her most was his honest smile. She told herself that she was just making friends but when the time came for him to be discharged home, her heart was heavy as lead.
He left and Unohana thought that was the last she would see of him. The next month he was back in the emergency ward with another injury, this time to his right leg. He still smiled at her and finally told her that his second injury was done on purpose, just so he could come to the hospital for a reason. The next week, Unohana agreed to go out with him.
Their relationship progressed steadily, and she found herself falling in love with the man. The clan naturally disagreed and told her to break up with Ukitake, but Unohana refused. They dated for six long years, the happiest six years of Unohana's life. In the third year, Unohana finally dared herself to tell Ukitake about her real identity, and prepared for his inevitable anger and disappointment. Instead, all she received was a warm embrace and his reassuring smile.
In the fourth year, Ukitake proposed but Unohana told him she was not ready but moved in with him. She was afraid of Ukitake's mortality, and of what she would do if he finally left her. The fifth year was still a happy one and even though umarried, they lived as husband and wife. In the sixth year, Ukitake showed obvious signs of aging and started to fall ill frequently, worrying Unohana greatly. The clan took the opportunity to plant seeds of doubt in her mind then, of how human life was only temporary and that she should face the pain sooner than later.
She left him then in the seventh year.
He hadn't changed one bit.
"Here you go." Ukitake smiled as he placed a cup of hot coffee in front of Unohana, jolting her from her thoughts. "I hope you still enjoy my home-made coffee."
Unohana smiled and took a sip. It still tastes the same. "Still the best."
Ukitake smiled and took a seat opposite the Succubus.
"I… hope I'm not disturbing your family." Unohana placed the flowers and red wine on the table. "I just came to talk a bit with Rukia."
"That's alright." Ukitake poured himself a cup of coffee.
"I hope your wife wouldn't mind, I mean-"
"Retsu." Ukitake looked up and smiled. "I'm not married, I never did."
Unohana's blue eyes widened, but Ukitake continued to smile.
"Rukia is adopted?"
"Yes." Ukitake nodded. "She's been my little angel ever since."
"I see. You must be proud, she's a lovely woman."
"I am."
He did not marry...
Unohana's eyes widened as realization hit her. "Jushiro… does that mean… you knew who Byakuya was, from the start?"
After revealing her identity to Ukitake but was accepted and loved regardless, Unohana had taught Ukitake on the ways to differentiate the aura between humans and demons. Humans could not rely on sense of smell as well as demons did, but they could tune into their inner feelings to ascertain the presence of demons. Unohana had taught Ukitake this, and he had learned well.
"Yes, I did." Ukitake nodded. "Right from when I first met him in the flower shop."
Nice to meet you, Byakuya-san. I apologize for not having heard of you yet. But I doubt you are a new classmate of hers from university.
Unohana's eyes were wide. "And you didn't stop his relationship with Rukia?"
Ukitake smiled. "I watched Byakuya-san for a bit after that, wondering what an Incubus wanted with my daughter. Of course, I feared the worst that he just wanted to prey on her for energy, but then I realized… that as impossible as it seemed, Byakuya-san was in love with Rukia."
Rukia needed someone who loved her. And this Byakuya-san, might just be the one...
Unohana's eyes widened.
Ukitake smiled. "Who am I to stand between them? If they both love each other and are willing to fight for it… there should be no distinction whether he is a demon or she is a human."
I know you are different, Byakuya. But if she will be happy with you, I will certainly give my blessings as a happy father. But if she will be happier without you, I will have to turn you away sooner or later."
I know you are different.
"I stood between them, Jushiro." Unohana's voice was almost a whisper. "That was what I came for today, to apologize to Rukia for doing so."
Ukitake smiled. "It all worked out in the end. So do not lay the blame on anyone, not even yourself." He turned to the sink as he lifted the empty coffee cup in front of him.
"Forgive me." Unohana's voice was soft, almost pained.
Ukitake stopped, his back to her. Then he slowly turned to face the Succubus and as she looked up, it was his sweet smile that she saw first. "I had already forgiven you, the second I finished reading the letter you left me. I realized… I might not be what you needed, so I would let you choose what was best for you."
Unohana realized that Ukitake's smile was getting blurry, because of the tears now marring her vision. She took a deep breath and looked up, as a single tear slid down her cheek. "It was the worst mistake of my life, because I spent the decades in bitter loneliness."
Ukitake walked forward and Unohana felt him wipe away her tear with his warm hand.
The Succubus took another deep breath. "Would you forgive me enough… to give me another chance?"
Ukitake's eyes widened, but Unohana's blue eyes were firm.
I want to be strong… I don't want to turn back, not this time…
And then Ukitake bent forward and kissed the salty trail of Unohana's tears. "I have been waiting all this time, Retsu."
xXxXx
"Otousan, I'm home!" Rukia smiled cheerily as she dashed into the living room. Byakuya walked behind her, carrying two bags of groceries.
"Otousan? Funny, he always greets me at least halfway in the living room," Rukia mused to Byakuya. "He should be in the kitchen cooking then." Rukia made an immediate beeline for the kitchen, Byakuya following in the wake of her footsteps. "Otousan, I-"
Rukia stopped short as her violet eyes widened in shock. Byakuya, who had almost banged into her from behind, easily sidestepped his petite girlfriend. He caught sight of the figure cooking at the stove, and his grey eyes widened as well.
"Unohana-sensei?"
Unohana turned around in surprise, holding a soup ladle. She was dressed in one of Ukitake's shirts (which Rukia immediately noted) under the apron she was wearing.
"Oh." Unohana stared at Rukia and Byakuya. Byakuya's slightly widened eyes were the only evidence of his surprise, Rukia, on the other hand, was standing openmouthed next to him with eyes as round as saucers.
"I… er, came to find you, Rukia." Unohana smiled hurriedly. "And then… I bumped into your father, who happened to be…" Unohana shook her head slightly. "It's a very long story. Do have a seat, both of you."
The subtle realization was already evident in Byakuya's grey eyes, but Rukia still remained bewildered. Just then, Ukitake stepped through his bedroom door, carrying his cookbook.
"Otousan!" Rukia smiled, her face lighting up even though her expression still remained confused.
"Rukia!" Ukitake smiled. "Byakuya-san." He took a seat next to the young couple. "I will tell them the story, Retsu."
Ukitake poured both of them twin cups of coffee.
"It's going to be one long tale, my dears."
Yes, there you have it. Not much of a cliffhanger this time. :) So things are working out beautifully between Byakuya and Rukia, even though there's always the age and time factor. And yes, I've introduced a new coupling to this story - Ukitake x Unohana! :D I developed this idea somewhere near the third chapter, and it has finally translated into an official chapter. :)
Well, I hope you enjoyed the new chapter nevertheless. And the lemon in the shower too... ;D
Do leave a review for me, your comments/opinions/suggestions are very valuable for me as feedback, as much as a source for motivation of writing. Thank you. :)