Byakuya closed the now empty bento box and sighed contently as he leaned back. He interlocked his fingers behind his head and closed his eyes, listening to the birds in the trees, and taking in the scent of the sakura blossoms. Tama closed her empty bento box and stretched out by his feet. Although he couldn't see, he could sense where she was and the fact she was that far away from him was irritating. Without changing his position he asked, "What are you doing?"
"Relaxing," she replied.
Byakuya opened one of his eyes to look at her and inquired, "I understand that. Why are you relaxing there? It's better up here by me."
Tama shrugged and then asked, "I'm curious, why did you stay with me last night?"
He blinked a little then gave a heavy sigh. Closing his eyes again, he leaned back against the sakura tree and deeply inhaled. As he exhaled he explained, "I was sick once, it was fairly severe. I had to stay at the fourth overnight at least until Unohana felt better about sending me home with one of her subordinates to supervise my recovery. She's the one Captain that Grandfather cannot strong arm into giving him what he wants. What I remember most about that night was all of the strange scents, and sounds. I barely got any rest."
He opened his eyes again and revealed, "I guess Unohana could sense my unease. She sent for Father, he came and slept by me through the night. It wasn't so frightening then, and I was able to rest. I don't know what it's like to have to live in a strange house with strangers. I do know what it's like to try sleeping somewhere you're not used to. Father was able to ease my fear—and while we haven't known each other that long, I thought maybe I could do the same for you."
"Sort of worked," she admitted before conceding, "though not at first."
"Do you wish to talk about that dream you had?"
She shook her head from side to side, and he nodded in agreement as he voiced, "alright. You don't have to join me up here, but you can. I would feel a bit more calm if you did."
Tama quirked a brow at him and then glanced to the area where they'd been training before lunch.
He smiled as he advised her, "I'm not going to train you right now. We just ate. It's best to let our stomachs work through that first before we do anything else."
Tama crawled over and sat next to Byakuya, while asking, "am I—mm never mind."
"No, if you wish to know something, please, ask me," he insisted. She gained a slight blush to her cheeks as she glanced away from him, and admitted, "it's embarrassing."
Byakuya gave a slight sigh as thought briefly before he revealed, "my favourite colour is pink. Like the cherry blossoms from the sakura trees. They're my favourite flower. My Grandfather isn't too pleased about that, yet I can't help it. I just find them both soothing and beautiful."
'That doesn't make sense. Pink is for boys anyway,' Tama thought to herself before probing, "why does that bother him?"
"I have mentioned that he's old fashioned by now, right? He isn't so bothered by the pink thing. It's a toned down version of red, so as far as he's concerned it's still masculine. Yet, the whole Japanese cherry blossom thing—he doesn't think that men should admit to liking any flowers," he answered while looking at her.
"Hmm, that's silly. Everyone enjoys certain scents and esthetics," Tama replied.
"You got a favourite flower?"
Tama nodded, "I love tulips, especially the pink ones."
Byakuya smiled and nodded in agreement while admitting, "they're nice too."
She braced herself before questioning him, "if you were into a girl who—had my past, would it change how you view her?"
He gave a small shake of his head as he replied, "No. That's not something a person chooses. It's something that happened to them. Events that happen to someone beyond their control—that's not a reason for anybody to look down on them, it's no different than judging someone for not being able to breathe easily all the time. I will cross blades with anyone who does. If I were to judge anyone, it would be the person casting judgment over such a thing, and maybe someone who abandons a kid—but I'd have to know why they abandoned them."
He closed his eyes as he admitted, "I guess some men would see it differently but they're not worth your time, so ignore them. If they start trouble and you don't want to take them on alone, just let me know about it. I'll back you."
Her brow furrowed as she inquired, "why?"
He opened an eye to observe her as he asked, "Well—isn't that what friends do for each other?"
A small smile crept across her face as she nodded and acknowledge, "yes. You're right."
He chuckled softly and closed his eyes once again while asking, "are you going to come up here so I know you're safe or are you going to force me to stay alert?"
Tama giggled as she shifted so she was next to him. He lazily wrapped an arm around her shoulders while her head rested on his shoulder.
"Now I can relax a bit," he mused, as he felt her breathing evening out. The training they'd done before stopping for lunch had been exhausting for both of them for different reasons. He was exhausted from carrying her to their current location while flash stepping, and she was exhausted from the mental exertion of learning to control her reiatsu.
What he hadn't disclosed to her was that Ginrei had agreed that if he could accurately gauge her abilities based solely on what he knew of Shinigami arts, he would personally train him. 'Train me, but not over write me on my views,' Byakuya thought to himself. He also knew Ginrei's requirements for Tama to be considered his bodyguard, she had to be able to cut his grandfather in a one on one fight. That alone would take a bit to achieve.
He blinked when he felt her arm wrap around his upper abdomen, but smiled a little. If she felt safe enough to wrap her arms around him, he was okay with it. Well, as long as her arm didn't drop too low. He opened his eyes when he sensed someone else nearby, he scanned the trees before the person abandoned their cover.
Appearing while sitting cross legged in front of the young Kuchiki was a man who appeared to be in his late teens or early twenties, he had light skin, grey eyes, and light, almost pale, blonde hair. His hair had strands framing the sides of his face and hanging in his face, one piece right in front of his nose. He smiled as he observed the two then commented, "She's warmed up to you. That's a little surprising."
"Why would you say that, Urahara?"
The man looked to the boy and elaborated, "I've never known you to be calm or patient with anyone, Bya-kun. Is she bringing out something in you that you've been hiding?"
"That is none of your business," Byakuya curtly replied before adding, "you were summoned here strictly to assist in ensuring her safety."
"Well that's true enough from your father's view. From your grandfather's perspective you're the only one I'm supposed to protect. The girl I'm supposed to observe."
"I wish I were surprised," Byakuya softly growled, the girl shifted and tensed in his arms. His expression softened and he rested his fore head against hers, softly humming.
Urahara blinked at the sight, but watched as the girl's posture relaxed, and she continued to sleep. "Interesting, you've clearly made an impact on her. If she's that responsive to your attempt to comfort her in her sleep, she feels a deep connection with you," Urahara remarked.
Byakuya's steel eyes gave a cold glare to the blonde man, who raised his opened palms to him and insisted, "it's just an observation."
Keeping his same glare the young heir proposed, "one that Ginrei doesn't need to know about. Are we clear?"
"Alright, I can keep a little secret," Urahara promised, as he pulled out a red apple from his shirt and bit into it.
AN: Prior to the 1940's pink, a toned down version of red, was used for baby boys, and the delicate blue was used for baby girls. From the 1940's onward, after woman's sufferage, the colours were switched. Blue became for boys and pink became a "girl's colour". This story takes place a little more than 110 years before Rukia made Ichigo a substitute, and thus the favoured colours are deemed to be gender appropriate for the era.