Summary

Was there some kind of rule she'd forgotten to read? Because she couldn't seem to understand why she was attracting so much attention from the wrong kind of people.

A/N: I'll put the same kind of apology in here that I did in case you guys don't read the other stuff I post. I'm really really really sorry about how long it took to put this up. A lot of stuff in my life is being uprooted and changed around, and I simply don't have anywhere close to as much free time as I used to. My only consolation is that I hope you all can forgive me for my absence and to please bear with me as I go through this rocky uncharted thing called life.

Okay, moving on. I've always considered Kurotsuchi to be extremely creepy. I don't care what anyone else says; he is. I hope you guys enjoy this next chapter!

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Kagome shivered again and spun around. She had been getting the distinct impression that she was being observed. Like a bug on a pin that hadn't realized it had already been tacked up on display. She couldn't stand that feeling! When her eyes, ears, and senses came into contact with nothing, she shook her head visibly and continued to head in the direction of Squad 6's barracks. A sharp jolt skated down her spine as something dark flashed from the corner of her eye, and she was running as fast as she could towards sanctuary.

'Fight or flight! I'm friggin' running!' A few moments later, she skidded into her Captain's office unexpectedly and dove behind him. Byakuya blinked and slowly turned his head away from his paperwork to peruse his unusually jumpy subordinate.

"Higurashi... What are you doing?"

"Umm... I thought I'd polish the floor in here!" she chirped brightly, feigning an enormous amount of cheerfulness that had even him unconvinced. "... With my socks!"

He turned his chair and leveled a blank look at her.

"Higuras-!" The noble was cut off abruptly when the smaller shinigami suddenly grabbed a hold of the front of his scarf and yanked him down to the floor with her. Nose-to-nose, he was highly aware that their current positions were very... inappropriate.

"Someone. Is. Following. Me." the former time traveler grit out slowly, a dangerously calm glint entering her blue eyes, "Make. Them. Stop."

The words processed a second later, and he was slowly peeling her fingers from his front. "... Who."

"I don't know! That's what worries me!" she hissed quietly, almost afraid to talk too loudly. She watched him rise to his feet and absently hold out a hand to her while he scanned the area for threats. What had him stumped, though, was that he didn't feel any threats. Was Higurashi going insane? Already?

Kagome shyly took his hand and almost tripped as he pulled her to her feet. Luckily, he managed to catch her in time. Which put her flushed against him awkwardly. Wide blue eyes gazed up at him helplessly and Byakuya let out a quiet breath as he leaned down until their noses touched again. His mouth brushed hers tentatively and her eyes fluttered shut in acceptance-

"CAPTAIN!" Higurashi suddenly shouted, snapping him out of his haze. Blinking rapidly, the nobleman focused his gaze again to find himself on the floor nose-to-nose with a worried looking Kagome. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to jarr you. Is anything broken?"

'Aside from my head, no,' Byakuya thought, merely shaking his head in negative. He couldn't believe he'd started fantasizing about her! And right in front of her too!

Kagome tilted her head in suspicion. The look in his eyes hadn't faded completely. "You sure?"

"I assure you, Higurashi, that my facilities are in working order," he grit out in annoyance, making her bite her lip and nod. She had no choice but to believe him.

"Right. I was telling you that someone was following me and it was creeping me out worse than when Captain Zaraki gives me that look that screams he wants to fight me." He knew exactly what she was talking about, and he'd made sure to be nearby incase the larger Captain decided to give it a go. So far, he'd managed to shield his much smaller subordinate from the advances, though they were becoming more frequent. He wondered if Miroku knew about this...

"I see. And you want me to make them stop aggravating you?" He stood, brushing himself off and held out a hand to her.

"No, I want you to walk with me and maybe hold them down while I beat the living daylights out of them," Kagome replied, blinking innocently at his hand before shaking her head and pushing herself to her feet.

'Nothing is simple with this woman, is it?' the Kuchiki head thought, gray eyes flashing in slight annoyance before he got himself back under control. 'I attempt to be the gentleman and she disregards it!'

"I... see... Does the monk know about this?"

"Contrary to popular belief, Captain, Miroku is not my keeper," the smaller shinigami ground out, her eye starting to twitch just so as she started out of his door again. If only to make sure she didn't destroy any of the barracks' property, he decided to follow her. It wasn't because he was worried or annoyed that someone else was insisting on bothering her.

"Of course. You are your own woman, therefore liable to take care of yourself... unless it involves Zaraki."

"Hey, Captain Zaraki is terrifying. Have you noticed that he's been showing up a lot more at random intervals? It's like he's stalking you, Captain!" the former priestess replied, getting an odd look from her squad leader. "What?"

"He's not stalking me. It's you he's after."

"But-! I-! I don't get that! I'm not that strong!"

"He seems to believe otherwise," Byakuya countered quietly. Sliding a sidelong glance at the befuddled girl, he could sense her weakened spirit energy spluttering in fury. It was still a mystery why her energy hadn't completely recovered from her stint in the Medical Ward. One that had sent Miroku into a scramble to try and find a way to break the 'seal' that was still apparently rather intact on the girl's soul. The noble was honestly all for the removal of it, and the sooner it was done, the sooner Kagome could go back to being herself. This had been the first time since her endeavour with Captain Ukitake that one of their conversations hadn't been stilted or awkward... or started in a drunken stupor, on her part. It seemed that teasing her put her more at ease around him, but there was only so much needling he could accomplish before he felt like he'd be coming off as an arrogant asshole.

"Well... I'm not!" Kagome stamped her foot in agitation and blew out a breath in frustration.

"I do not pretend to know how his mind works," the Captain replied, checking their surroundings carefully for whatever it was that the smaller shinigami was deeming a threat. So far, nothing was pinging off of his senses. He followed her out into the courtyard with a mind to reach over and smack the girl upside the head for being so inattentive.

"He's so... so..." Shaking her head, Kagome dropped off as she looked around. Slowing down to a creep and absently fisting a hand in her Captain's sleeve, she furrowed her brows and muttered quietly, "That's odd. There was something here..."

"Perhaps whatever it was has grown bored of your absence," Byakuya replied, shrugging when she goggled up at him. It was a valid possibility.

"I... don't think that's it. Maybe because I've got you here..." the former time traveler countered softly, getting an elegantly raised brow from the nobleman. She didn't need to know that inside the man was feeling rather smug about that idea. "I guess... I don't need help after all." Stepping away from the nobleman, she let him go and took a few steps forward. Then turning, she bowed sheepishly and bit her lip. "Sorry about bothering you, Captain."

The Kuchiki head watched her walk away with a sudden sense of loss, and before he could stop himself, he found himself calling out to her anyway. She was right, there was something out here watching.

"Higurashi?"

"Yes?" Glancing back at him, she tilted her head to the side in an innocent manner Was something still bothering him?

"... Come back inside. Rukia will be by soon and I am sure she will wish to speak with you." It was a pitiful excuse, but at least he wouldn't have to worry about her being alone. Especially if Zaraki was prowling around nearby.

Gazing up at him with wide blue eyes, she carefully worded her answer, "Are... you sure I won't be... interfering?" Because she really didn't want to be a burden to the Kuchiki siblings.

Byakuya huffed quietly and leveled her with a gimlet stare. "There will be tea." He said it as though that one statement was the source of making all of her problems go away.

'Well, if he insists...' the priestess thought, shrugging her shoulders and making her way back to the barracks, her squad leader following closely behind. Inwardly, she giggled and thanked him for being at least a little bit perceptive, and maybe slightly protective even.

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"Well? Where is she?" a voice in the dark questioned, testy patience already wearing thin.

"Master Mayuri, I apologize. At the last moment, Captain Kuchiki convinced Kagome Higurashi to return to the Squad 6 barracks. I had no chance to apprehend her once she fled to his office without becoming suspicious."

"... Nemu, your dimwittedness never ceases to amaze me," Captain Kurotsuchi growled, waving the girl off and turning back to his computer, "If he finds out that the girl is much more than she seems, then I will never get a chance to go near her! Something this rare should be recorded, not kept loced away!"

"I apologize, Master," Nemu murmured, bowing deeply to her leader.

"Idiot! A priestess in our midsts! And one as powerful as her! To obtain the information that I could from studying her would be monumental!" Kurotsuchi ranted, typing furiously and watching the data flow on the screen.

"I understand. I will continue to try to bring Kagome Higurashi to you."

"See that you do!"

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A shiver skated down Miroku's spine and he watched the fluffy clouds pass overhead. Something ominous was heading in their direction, and he was pretty sure it would have to do with Kagome.

'Kagome-sama... Please don't do anything rash...'

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A/N: And all done! Yayz! Now with more suspense! I hope you guys can forgive my horribly long absence. Unfortunately, until school lets out in December, I'm afraid the trend will be continuing. Updates will be when I get the chance to write up the chapters.

Please review!