Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

A Beneficial Arrangement	By : vbruce Category: Bleach > General Views: 3828 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. That honor goes to it's original author and creator. Making no money from writing this.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Inari walked slowly back to her home. Thinking the whole way, mulling over what had happened in Byakuya Kuchiki's office. Thinking about the man himself as well. There was fire under all that ice, she was certain of it, could feel it moving just under the surface. She'd have to talk to Rukia a bit more, see what had happened in his life to make him so outwardly chilly. One thing was certain, the interior did not match the exterior and that bothered her. Thinking on it she wondered if he kept the rules and regulations closed around him like armor. If no one could get in close, no one could hurt him. The thought had merit. She knew this because she similarly used her various positions to keep people at bay. That had only been partially successful. Her leadership of the Pack tended to put people off just as her position as an heir to the throne drew them in.
She had just walked into her rooms when there was a knock at the door and two curious faces peered in. One was Rukia, the other Maki.
“Oh, honestly, you two! You're worse than a couple of gossiping old biddies pecking for the newest news,” Inari said, shaking her hair out of the sedate knot it had been in.
“Well, how did it go?” Maki asked.
“Like clockwork. Renji didn't blow my cover because I got to him first,” she said, putting her glasses back on. “Gods, I’m so happy to be able to see properly again. Why in the nine hells didn't you tell me he was stunning?”
“We did,” Maki protested. “You didn't believe us.”
“Point taken. I have questions for you,” she said, looking at Rukia.
“I'll answer if I know,” Rukia said.
“He's still grieving. How long has it been since his wife died? Why is the family pushing for this now? And why with me?” Inari asked, sitting down and waiting for Rukia to join her.
“It's been nearly seventy five years since she died,” Rukia said, sitting next to Inari. “I think the family is stirred up because of mine and Ichigo's coming wedding. They want an heir. Only Byakuya can provide that as head of the family. He said if it were solely up to him he'd declare any children Ichigo and I have as heirs and be done with it.”
“I understand,” Inari said, nodding. “Why me though?”
“Best guess? Because they knew he would probably decline anyone else outright. Or at least find a way around it, since he couldn't exactly snub a direct request from the family. It's more difficult to reject royalty out of hand. Plus you have similar coloring to Hisana. Not exactly, mind you, her hair was darker and didn't have the curl yours does but it's close enough. Also, they know you lost your husband, so the two of you have similar backgrounds in that aspect.”
“I see. What happens if I refuse?”
“They're determined for him to marry again,” Rukia said. “They would just look into less suitable women for him. Ones who would be more interested in the last name Kuchiki rather than Byakuya. Believe me, there are more than I care to count who fit into that category.”
Inari nodded, understanding that all too well. “Heavy lies the head that wears the crown. Or whatever he has on his head.”
Rukia laughed. “It is ridiculous, isn't it?”
“Completely.”
“So, what do you think of him?”
“Jury's still out to a certain extent on that,” Inari said. “What I feel from him is agony with flashes of humor and one hell of a temper under all of the frost he puts out.”
“I think that's accurate. From the stories I've heard in the family, he had a temper to rival Ichigo's.”
Maki whistled long and low. “Wow! That's saying something.” She turned slightly to look at Inari. “If he’s learned to clamp down that hard on it, I’d be very wary, Hime. One day his head might explode from all the pressure.”
“You may be right about that, Maki,” Inari said. “Anything else?”
“He also promised the family that he wouldn't break any more rules. As I understand it, this was after Hisana died and he'd fulfilled her last request in finding me and adopting me into the family.”
Inari nodded, thinking. “That explains volumes about his behavior versus what’s going on inside of him. What do you think of him personally, Rukia? Not just as an adopted brother but as a person?”
“I think,” Rukia said slowly. “That he's a good man. Even when he thought I was going to be put to death, it hurt him to see it, though he wouldn't have broken his pledge to the family in order to save me. He kept his promise completely. I think that still bothers him sometimes. I also think it's why he sort of found a way around Renji and I going to Hueco Mundo after Orihime. Why he came himself later. I also think . . .” she bit her lip slightly. “I think he's lonely. He has all of these people pushing at him every minute of every day, wanting something from him but . . .”
“But no one cares what he wants,” Inari finished. Oh, yes, she could sympathize with that. “And he has no one to support him who doesn't want something in return aside from you. When you marry Ichigo that last person he can count on will be gone.”
Rukia nodded. “I know it isn't right for the family to push him like this when he's still hurting but they will continue because I really don’t think it’s in any of them to care. They'll badger him until he agrees out of duty and I don't . . .” she took a deep breath. “I don't want that for him. It isn't fair. I know I have no right to ask you this, Inari, but would you at least try? At least see if he might be someone you could live with. I'm not asking you to love him, just . . .”
Inari reached over and squeezed the younger woman's hand. “I'll do what I can and we'll see. But it isn't only up to me. He has to be part of any decision as well.”
Rukia nodded and Inari couldn't be certain she wasn't blinking back tears. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome. Now, let's finish making all of these ridiculous plans for you and my brat of a nephew.”
Plans were solidified after that and they had supper brought in so they could continue working on things for the wedding. Close to midnight Rukia excused herself as she was nearly falling asleep at the table, going through clothing swatches for the various layers of kimono she'd have to wear for the wedding. Ichigo had complained loud and long about it all. Not that anyone had paid him the slightest bit of attention.
Inari had bid Rukia goodnight and saw her out the door when Maki asked an odd question.
“What are you plotting, Hime?”
“Why do I have to be plotting something?”
Maki sighed and rolled her eyes. “Really, Hime. Kuchiki, Byakuya is not one of your strays to take in. I know that expression on your face.”
“I think he'd be highly offended to be called one of my strays, Maki,” Inari said.
“That doesn't answer my question,” Maki said, folding her arms over her chest and waiting patiently for an answer.
“I'm just going to pay him a moonlight visit. He'll never know I was there.”
“Why?”
“Because you know as well as I do that people's guards are down when they're asleep. It's something you taught me, remember?”
“I recall it. You're drawn to him, aren't you,” Maki said.
“Yes. But I'm not sure why. I don't know if it's simply because we share similar pains in losing a spouse or if it's something else. I need to know more about him if I'm to do what my future niece asked of me.”
“Be careful, Hime. You won't have a ground to anchor you and you tend to get lost in other people's feelings sometimes.”
“I know that, Maki. I'll be careful, I promise. Just make sure you lock me down completely or I’ll never be able to get anywhere.”

888
Byakuya was pacing the confines of his bedroom. The futon had been laid out hours ago and he was in sleeping clothes but he was restless. He was still bothered by the fact that there had been a Wolf in sheep's clothing in his office today delivering an invitation straight into the den of the mother Wolf. It was the only explanation because there was no way in any level of hell that woman had been a servant. Even with her reishi suppressed as it had been, it was still almost enough to knock him out of his seat and that was saying something. Add to it the way she'd stared at him, almost memorizing his face, no doubt to take that back to her superior. He should have ordered Renji to tell him who she was but he doubted if the lieutenant would have told him.
He opened the doors that led out into his private garden and wandered out into the night, enjoying the stillness. He sat under a flowering plum tree that he and Hisana had always made their way to on nights like this. They’d been so happy. Had so many plans. Now all that remained were regrets and memories that haunted him night and day. “I thought we had time,” he said to the night. He let his head fall back against the tree, still thinking about his late wife. He finally got up again and roamed the garden for a few minutes before sighing heavily and going back inside. He had to be up early in the morning so he needed to at least try to get some rest. He settled into bed for the night, finally dropping into a fitful sleep.
It had been a good thing for Inari that he was too distracted to notice when she slid into the room right after him. She probably shouldn’t be here but she really didn’t see any other alternative. Partially because she doubted she’d be able to get past the ice completely on any given day with him. She waited in the shadows until he’d dropped off to sleep before she moved very carefully toward him. She paused when he shifted restlessly, lost in dreams from what she could tell. He looked younger in his sleep, fragile and in need of protection. She smiled a little at the thought. A Captain was far from being fragile, at least not physically, emotionally, that was another subject entirely.
She reached out and gently put her hand against the side of his face, again staggered by the flood of emotions from a seemingly unemotional person. Sorrow, regret and bitter loneliness were constant companions for him. Her heart broke a little for him as she caught glimpses of the cold solitude he’d more or less imposed on himself after his wife’s death.
She was startled out of the mild trance she’d been in by feeling him shift and his hand grab onto her wrist. She stifled the gasp she’d almost uttered and held very still, waiting to see what would happen. She frowned a little, it still felt like he was asleep. Before she could ponder that further he shifted again and wrapped the other arm around her, pulling her down onto him.
Sweet gods, she thought, he really is still asleep. The next thought was how to get free without waking him up. That was made infinitely more complicated by him rolling and half pinning her underneath him.
- 2
- 3
- 4
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Beneficial Arrangement