Disclaimer: Only my imagination is my own. The rest belongs to the creator of Bleach.

Winds of Change

Last night he was sorely tempted. Oh, so tempted. Her close proximity was enough to make him hard with need. Her sweet, vanilla scent didn't make matters easier. A quick taste was all he wanted. But ultimately he decided against it. He didn't want to antagonize her and make her shy away from him. What he wishes to happen is the exact opposite.

Today is a good day, Byakuya thought to himself as he set out from his home to Seireitei. The air smelled sweet with blossoming jasmines. The wind was cool but gentle. Nature is in favour with him.

"Ohayuou gozaimasu, Kuchiki-taichou" every Shinigami piped as he passed by. As always he merely nodded his head in reply.

"Ohayou, taichou."

Byakuya's steps slowed down as his loud-mouthed vice-captain fell into step with him.

"I'll carry those papers for you," Renji offered gesturing to the thick stack of folders Byakuya was lugging.

He was about to dump them onto Renji's hands when he caught sight of a familiar figure walking on a street just a short distance from where they were standing.

"Rangiku," he called out.

As it was still early in the morning there were plenty of Shinigami milling about either on their way to their squad headquarters or are going home from duty.

Everybody within hearing range paused in surprise. Kuchiki Byakuya calling Matsumoto Rangiku by her given name? That's odd1. Just what is between the captain of the sixth squad and the vice-captain of the tenth squad? Even Renji's mouth was hanging in surprise.

Despite her shock by Byakuya using her first name, Rangiku made herself walk towards him.

All the eyes that were focused on her made her conscious. Before noon everybody in Seireitei would know about this. A scandal could arise just by him calling her Rangiku.

"Hai, taichou. Ohayou," she greeted as she came to stand in front of him. No gozaimasu2. Her mistake. From her peripheral vision she saw that Renji's already wide eyes doubled in size as he looked at her then at Byakuya then back again.

"Perfect timing. I want you to give these to Hitsugaya-san. I was meaning to drop by later but since you're here…"

The listening Shinigami had another dose of surprise. He was speaking not in an authoritative tone but I a softer one.

"Hai, I will give to the captain all these."

Rangiku could not help herself. She smiled? Their encounter last name came to the forefront of her mind.

To everybody's ultimate surprise, Kuchiki Byakuya smiled. It was small and was gone in a split second but it was still a smile.

Upon facing Abarai Renji his face was back to its usual stony state. "Let's go," he commanded. "We have a lot of things waiting for us."

He walked away first. Renji dawdled and gave Rangiku a scorching look after finally walking away. It said: "You have a lot of explaining to do."

Once the two were out of sight she turned around to proceed to her original destination. There were still some men who lingered. "Minna, ohayou! Let's do our best today, too!"

They all walked away.

"Toushirou-kun! Here are the papers from Kuchiki-taichou!" Rangiku called out cheerfully as she entered her superior's office.

Toushirou's brooding face greeted her. "It's early morning and you're already loud," he complained. "And it's Hitsugaya-taichou."

"Aw…"

Rangiklu went forward to place the folders on the table. She started sorting the things piled in front of her captain.

Although her was immersed in his mountain of paperworks she saw that he glanced at her with an odd expression every so often.

She sighed. She knew what that look meant. At least she has a hunch. He's heard of it, too, she thought.

After a day of receiving weird looks and seeing people whisper and point at her, she can now rest. Rangiku worked faithfully at the office to avoid staying there doing overtime.

"I'll be leaving now, Hitsugaya-taichou," Rangiku announced as she stacked the last heap of paperworks together.

"Matte, Matsumoto," Toushirou called out as she was going through the door. He was holding out an envelope.

"What is this, taichou?"

"I don't know," Hitsugaya answered blandly. "It's addressed to you. I was only asked to deliver it."

"Arigatou gozaimasu," Rangiku bowed and left.

The comforting sight of her quarters was before her when she decided to take out the envelope she put in her kimono sleeve earlier.

Her hand stopped in midmotion. She was suddenly afraid to open the envelope. Her mind was going to different directions at once.

On the flap of the envelope was the Kuchiki seal.

So sorry for the delay, guys! Uni just got a little harder! Don't forget to comment. :D