Disclaimer: I'm way too young to own Bleach.
Chapter 5
Ten minutes after telling him where her house is, none would say anything but at least there's no deafening silence that would annoy Ichigo and make Byakuya a little uneasy. Both hate too much noise and both love peace and quiet but not to that extreme.
It started to rain, and wet drops made it hard for Ichigo to see through the car windows. "You're so rich. Three cars is not something each family can have." He looked at her for a moment but quickly turned back to what's ahead of him, for it's harder to drive under a rainy weather.
"The mansion has been in my family even before I was born, so we chose to live there instead. It's still like a palace, but compared with the other houses that we have somewhere else, it's the smallest." If Ichigo was drinking right now, she would have spat the whole thing out. Instead, her eyes opened even wider.
"Seriously?" He nodded and she looked at him with disbelief. "Right now, I should thank you. I didn't even bring an umbrella." she bitterly muttered. "It's nothing." he replied calmly, but not apathetically." Both looked at the front window, watching the rain turn into something white.
Instantly, the orange head's face lightened up and she smiled, laughing a little. "Finally, it's snowing!" Byakuya made his drive a little slower, to let her enjoy the view. Her cold cheeks warmed up at the sight, and her smile grew even brighter, like she's a child that could see things that only exists in one's fantasy.
"I'll let you go out and enjoy the view. From how long we've been driving, we're kind of close to your house now." She nodded in agreement, "It's just a few more lots and I'm there. Thanks again, by the way." Her voice sounded so innocent and pure, like when she's singing that Byakuya ignored the fact that she said thanks just as she walked out and laughed under the snow.
It may be immature for her age to act like that, but she wanted to do it anyway. Even under the falling cold crystals, her cheeks remained flushed and warm and she caught a few snowflakes in her cupped palms, and she blew them into the air. Inside, he just watched and waited.
Why would she be like that, like it's rare for her to have such moments like dancing under the snow? He couldn't help but wonder, for it's almost as if she rarely has time for that. Either that or she is just that type of person. She seemed calmer a while ago, but now she's so free and full of glee.
He waited long enough after five minutes and flashed the lights once, and she immediately stepped back in, her hands clasping together for warmth. "Sorry, I just couldn't help it." Her voice sounded embarrassed, but she never took her eyes away from the snow outside.
"You're very fond of winter." It's a correct comment, for she nodded. "For so long. Well not forever, but after playing with this kid my age one time in the park years ago when it snowed like this, I grew to love it just like that boy did. Too bad that I didn't get to see him again after that; we could have been friends."
Right after the last word they stopped by her house and she bid him goodbye with a chaste kiss on the cheek as her third thanks. He left right after, cathing a glimpse of her smiling as brightly as ever when her younger sisters jumping up to her.
He envied it that she has a complete family while he doesn't. He of course cares for his relatives, but it's just that he and Rukia's parents are not there to add the final piece.
Five days later, at Christmas...
Even before sunrise, Yuzu and Karin ran down the stairs to get their gifts. No one was annoyed by the excited noises that they make, for kids are kids. But they lost their will to sleep when they hear screams.
"Look, I got this big gift from Santa!"
"Me too!"
Ichigo smiled in understanding at the chatting of her two sisters downstairs and went to her parents' bedroom, easing them back to sleep. With a splash of water on her face, she was fully awake and fixed her hair while joining her sisters in opening the gifts.
She got only a few, but it's better than nothing. Her first gift consisted of two small pendants of a beautiful snowflake and a blue crystal. Then the second is a pure ruby necklace from Uryuu, which she immediately hanged around her neck. Third is a book of 'Romeo and Juliet', and it reminded her that she needed to return the exact book that she borrowed from Rukia.
Even though it's Christmas, she won't have much free time anymore once the vacation's over for she'll have her career and her studies to take care of. But it's far, and just as she wondered what to do, her fiancee entered and she immediately hugged him. "I thought you would miss out on us."
"My father will, unfortunately, because he's kind of ill." She mused in disbelief with a sly smile. "That's an excuse for your dad getting too caught up in work." He shook his head, "No he really is ill. A doctor getting ill is kind of unbelievable but they're still people."
He kissed her before she could giggle, and the doorbell rang. She walked to see the new visitor and saw Ashido, who carried something wrapped elegantly. "This is from both Rukia and Byakuya." She accepted the gift, and quirked her eyebrows that darted up to him.
"You call them by first name?" She didn't mean it in a rude way, that butlers must always use honorifics to refer to their masters, but it's unusual to hear. "They preferred it that I called them that way, but I still refer to other masters as I should."
Assuming that he felt a little hurt despite his blank face, she apologized. "Don't take it the wrong way. We don't have a butler ourselves, but I'm glad that you don't have to be too polite all the time." Though she knows he's quiet, she felt the need to have small talk with him. "I liked that tea you made the last time I visited."
He smiled a little, knowing that she's sincere in her compliment. "Thanks. No one but the masters ever said that." Her face twitched with pity. "Just for a while, you can come in and I'll make you tea. Try and be the guest for once."
Before he could try and say no as humbly as he could, she gently led him in to a couch on the chair. Her sisters didn't mind, and were rather welcoming. Since her parents are still asleep, and Uryuu was okay, she quickly boiled water and poured some fragrant tea leaves.
"I don't cook much, but I know how to make tea. Hope you like it." She poured a fair amount on his cup, and he quietly sipped it. "Wow, this tastes good too." He left out the fact that no one else did it for him, so all what he said next is, "You have my gratitude for showing me kindness today. But I believe this is more than enough. They're waiting for me to cook their lunch."
"I understand. But, I don't believe that's enough for you. Well, there is a next time." She looked at the book that's her present and quickly ran upstairs. "Wait here." It was not that hard to get the book since it just lied on the nightstand. But she also took something else with her.
She ran downstairs and gave it to him. "Return this book to Rukia, and give them this." Back then, Ichigo would have few projects about making their own charms. She gave two of them to him and closed his hand that held the two.
"As my gift to them for this Christmas." He departed after, and her sister immediately walked to her while making snipping sounds. "Hey, Onee-chan, is it okay if I can cut your hair?" Ichigo quickly touched her hair after hearing Yuzu's request. "Why?"
"It's so long now. Let's make them short again, and let them grow and... you know the cycle."
"When too long, cut it short and wait until you can cut again. I know." She could feel nothing as usual when several locks of orange hair fell to the floor, but since it's been a year since the last time it's cut she would miss having long hair.
But after one look at herself in the mirror, her hair now almost reaching the shoulders and with layered ends, it wouldn't hurt to change style once in a while.
"You gave her the gift?" Ashido nodded while presenting Ichigo's gift to them, saying, "These are from hers in return, and Ichigo intends to return this to you. She also gives you her thanks." Rukia received the book and one of the two charms, while Byakuya calmly received the other.
Rukia wanted to give the songstress her thanks, but that would have to wait so she merely appreciated the gift instead, not knowing that it's actually handcrafted in such a skillful manner. Who would see the difference?
Byakuya thought the same too. "Thanks." Though it's not out loud, he meant it for it's rare that he would say thanks to someone who's not his family.
TBC . . .
A/N: My updates are slow, I know. But I have 9 or 10 stories that are ongoing. Managing them all at once is a difficult job.