Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

Heat Of The Night	By : AlmaGemela Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 8351 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: Since my driver's license does NOT say Kubo Noriaki, I do not own BLEACH. The only thing being made from this fanfiction is a hobby. But please enjoy!

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
A/N: Sorry to disappoint, but smut will be in the next chapter rather than this one. Nonetheless, I hope you will still enjoy!

She was trying to redo her assignment. 'Trying' being the operative word. As of so far, all she had managed was to create a rather new fantastic plateau of insurmountable frustration. Her very skin boiled with it; although that very well could be attributed to the wretched heat now cooking the Seireitei. Who knew summer here would be just as broiling as it was within Japan? Truth be told she was also feeling rather disgusted with herself. She knew on some level that she really ought not to be as invested in Ochi-sensei's lackluster assessment. But still…To say she had been disappointed would be an understatement. Reading those words had been an emotional, swift punch to the gut.

Nibbling her bottom lip, her eyes traced over them once more. Innocently splayed out upon the back of her rejected artwork, her teacher's neat script read thus:

'A beautiful depiction, Inoue-san. But rather than 'how you see yourself,' this piece looks more like a rendering of 'how you wish to be seen.' I'm more interested in what kind of person you view yourself as. 55 Percent.

An abysmal grade. Even if she hadn't exactly been aiming high. Still, if she were to be completely honest with herself, it wasn't merely the grade that was truly bothering her. The assignment revealed that she didn't have the first clue as to who she really was as a person. It made her chest ache. She thought she had known who she was. Who she was meant to be.

She stood up abruptly, discontent. I need to clear my head, she reasoned. Maybe some change in scenery…

The sweet smell of grass being crushed underfoot was a tangible caress in the air with its fragrance. The scent reminded her of another evening, not long ago…wherein a previous evening of events had violently pushed her toward this very present. She shook the memory away, much like one would furiously shake laundered clothes, letting her mind wander over safer subject matter. Such as if the Kuchiki household had lawn-mowers. Obviously, nothing like big machinery that would run on oil or electricity…but possibly one to be pushed manually. She had known a boy once in primary school who had bragged about working one once. Apparently he had visited his uncle over-seas, and had taken the opportunity to try it. It had sounded interesting…

Lost as she was in this colorful reflection of lawn-maintenance and the particularities of its tools, she failed to notice she had company. At least, until said company fell on top of her.

"Heads up!"

"Oof!"

Ordinarily, Rangiku Matsumoto, Fukutaicho of the Jyuubantai retained all of the poise and lithe reflexes of a cat. Less so when inebriated.

In tripping off the roof, she had only just regained enough balance to land gracefully. However, she just so happened to do so on Orihime. In the attempt to rectify this mistake, Matsumoto Fukutaicho had instinctively heaved to the side in great haste. Thereby squashing the younger woman instead of flattening her. By doing this, she avoided giving Orihime a critical injury. Granted, she still winded the younger girl with her unexpected arrival. The Jyuubantai Fukutaicho grinned impudently at her disheveled companion as she sat up a little more gracefully.

"Oops…Sorry about that!"

"Tha—that's okay," Orihime wheezed. She took the elegantly preferred hand stretched in her direction. Then cautiously allowed herself to be helped up. She looked at her one-time guest, recognition lighting up her cinnamon eyes. Despite the mode of entrance, she was glad of the unexpected appearance of her friend.

"Matsumoto Fukutaicho! It's so good to see you!" Rangiku smiled, sea-foam eyes brightening as they took in the countenance of the girl.

"Likewise, Orihime-chan!" She punched her lightly in the shoulder, walking past, "And 'Rangiku-chan' is fine. " Rangiku contentedly headed onto a stone dais present several yards away, meant for decoration on the grounds. Orihime followed closely behind, humming gladly to herself. Once Rangiku had settled, Orihime sat next to her. Rangiku then quickly pulled a bottle of saké from the confines of her shihaksu, offering some to her friend before indulging herself.

"So, what brings you here? I heard a rumor that you might be in town…still, it's a pleasant surprise to see that it's true." She took another swig, waiting patiently as the girl collected her thoughts. Apparently, she hadn't realized that there might be rumors of her presence…still, the fact remained that it changed very little. She was, in fact, in Soul Society. Though the details regarding the reason for her visit remained fairly secretive, at least among most.

"Oh, just a visit during my summer holiday!" She chirped cheerfully, veering away from the subject. "What brings you to the Kuchiki Mansion? Do you have business with Kuchiki Taicho? Or was it to see me?"

"Eh, sort of the latter. Also scoping out the premises for the next Shinigami Women's Association meeting." Orihime wrinkled her brow thoughtfully.

"Oh, I didn't know Kuchiki Taicho hosted that…" That actually sounded pretty generous of him. Rangiku winked mischievously as she took another generous swig of sake.

"Oh, he doesn't," she swallowed another mouthful before continuing. "It's kind of little game we all play. We, meaning the S.W.A., randomly invade the Kuchiki grounds from time to time. Keeps Kuchiki-sama on his toes…Anyway, he's never complained. Well, Not much at any rate…But I think he secretly enjoys the distraction. The property is so wastefully spacious. And he could do with a little more chaos to liven things up a bit." She fixed a sharp eye on her friend, her genial demeanor receding as she queried. "How is it you became his guest?"

Taken aback at the change in topic, Orihime hesitated before responding. "It's…it's a little complicated." Rangiku didn't move, continuing to kindly regard her friend. Curiosity lurked behind her incisive, bright blue eyes.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" She offered casually. Orihime wavered. Sensing this, the shinigami looked away. Fixing her gaze on the horizon as she offhandedly spoke. "I'm not saying you have to confide anything in me…But, you were looking a little lost before I ambushed you. I admit that I miscalculated the landing, but I can't say I'm sorry to see you. Especially if you're in need of a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on..." So she jumped off the roof on purpose? The thought was a little amusing, even if her stomach still felt a little bruised because of how the sudden reunion had played out.

"It's…it's not that I don't want to. It's just that…I'm not the only person involved. It's sort of a matter of privacy…His privacy." She didn't need to mention who 'he' was. She continued hastily, "So I'm not sure it would be fair to…to…" to talk about Byakuya-sama behind his back. Rangiku shrugged almost carelessly. Orihime wasn't fooled.

"That's okay, Orihime-chan. You aren't obligated to. I'm just concerned about you, is all." Everyone seems to be, these days. Orihime thought mournfully. Still, perhaps Rangiku had a point. She did feel more than a little lost. Her stupid art project was just the tip of the ice burg on her growing list of problems. Her budding relationship with Byakuya confused her.

She had been a guest at the Kuchiki mansion for over a week and hardly seen a shadow of him. Granted, he was a busy individual, given his responsibilities. But she couldn't help but feel that he had been avoiding her of late. Or, at the very least, had pushed her aside in place of more important matters. She felt unwanted, and ignored. Given that the Jyuubantai Fukutaicho had proven to be a good listener in the past, she was more than a little tempted to try speaking with her. She had helped a great deal back when her emotions had felt all tangled. Strung up within the web of Kurosaki-kun and Kuchiki-chan's growing interactions. Back when Orihime had still carried a torch for her classmate…but all that had faded. It hadn't been a lie; her telling Taksuki-chan of her waning attraction for the Substitute Shinigami. But her present feelings regarding a very different shinigami seemed more elusive than ever. Especially given the…intimacy…she had previously shared with the Rokubantai Taicho. Intimacy, it seemed worth noting, that had run dry. Relations in any manner of form had not reoccurred since their last encounter in the world of the living. Before Ritsu-san had guilted her into meeting with the Kuchiki Council of Elders.

"It's…sort of hush-hush." She relented carefully, earning an arched brow from the older woman.

"Yeah, I gathered," Rangiku returned lightly, taking another drink.

"That is…it's not just about me. You see…Kuchiki Taicho and I….we've…sort of begun a relationship."

"What sort of relationship?" Orihime bit her lip, flushing.

"An…intimate one." Silence was her initial response.

"….I see."

"It was an accident! I mean, it wasn't his fault…or anything…and well…I went too far…and…he…we sort of…yeah." Good grief! It's like I'm rambling about condoms all over again! Orihime wanted to cover her face with her hands.

"…Okay." Orihime sighed at that response. Still, she recognized that it was merely an utterance to elucidate that she was being listened to. It was a subtle and non-judgmental. A noise of minimal comment. But Orihime felt exposed and vulnerable nonetheless.

"We decided…we ought to see where this…relationship... is headed. Because, accidental or not, we…are together...in a sense. At least, we've evidently entered into a formal courtship. But there's so much we still don't know about each other. And…I feel like…I don't know, so out of my depth. Out of place. Like we're too different to be compatible.

I mean, he is older than me…My brother Sora once warned me that older men who date—I mean court—younger women typically seek control over them. Because someone with much less life experience, someone who feels they have more to prove to their partner, is more susceptible to manipulation…and…while I don't think Kuchiki-Taicho would seek to do that sort of thing…I mean, he isn't human after all… I worry that we're still too different to really make it work." She sucked in a nervous breath of air after that wandering little speech; aware that she had babbled on like a brook. Orihime awaited Rangiku's response. She took her time in answering. Her friend swallowed the last of her alcohol reflectively before storing away the bottle on her person.

"Do you really want to know what I think? Or do you just want some good advice?"

"….Can't I have both?" Rangiku smiled. There was a glimmer of sadness behind her eyes; a stain jading the normally cheerful countenance. It vaguely occurred to Orihime, not for the first time, that the woman's jovial attitude was a façade. That she concealed more than she revealed by distracting others with a seemingly carefree attitude. But she didn't linger on the thought, as she recognized that Rangiku would be uncomfortable with the observation. Besides that, it was rather off topic from her situation. And Orihime was desperate for any knowledge the Fukutaicho might be able to impart in dealing with her position.

"It isn't that simple. I can offer some perspective as to how different you two are by nature, but my advice may not be a logical point of action following that. Contrary to popular belief, older adults don't typically have all the answers. Including seemingly ageless shinigami."

"…you've lost me." She admitted timidly. Rangiku spoke thoughtfully, allowing Orihime time to swallow and digest her 'words of wisdom.' If indeed they could be called that.

"Logically, this courtship doesn't sound exactly like a smart investment. Of your time, or his. I assume he's been avoiding you, given how unwelcome you seem to feel, here. Fact of the matter is, whatever the end game, you both come from different worlds. He's a nobleman of the Seireitei and you're a common human from the world of the living, enrolled in high school.

You may even want different things. Hell, you deserve different things. He requires a loyal wife and, following that, an heir. You, on the other hand, have a strong obligation to finish your education. Not to mention finish growing up. Mostly through gaining experience. People, shinigami and humans both, sometimes forget that we all need to grow in order to really flourish. We're a lot like plants, in that way.

Some people are like ivy: immensely dependent on others. Some are like dandelions: limited in their perspectives and abilities. And still others like…those….those great honking trees…..the ones native to over-seas…" She trailed off, trying to recall the foreign name.

"Sequoias…?" Orihime offered hesitantly.

Rangiku nodded emphatically, continuing with her monologue as she fleshed out the odd details of her metaphor.

"Yeah, sequoias….anyway, they're durable. They're monstrously huge….and the complete breadth of their potential and capabilities are staggering. But all these plants….people, you know….They all have different needs. Through no fault of their own, they have different and even contradicting experiences and expectations of the world around them. Many come from or require their own space or environment. Some perish where others thrive. The dandelion doesn't always see the same horizon as the sequoia. And you can't expect them to. Fact of the matter is…even flowers with six petals can't coexist harmoniously with cherry blossoms. At least that is how it would seem."

Orihime had to resist the urge to tuck her hair behind her hairpins with six petals, conspicuously nestled within her locks. She bit her lip instead, feeling as though she understood the full weight of Rangiku Fukutaicho's words. Yet she wasn't finished.

"Both of you are very different from each other. And you seem ill-prepared for dealing with the full implications of such a relationship, romantic or otherwise. You may be unable to really make the required sacrifices. There may be times where you question whether it was devotion or obligation that brought you together in circumstance. So logically…common sense would be to call it quits."

"So I should leave?" Orihime blurted. The older woman regarded her carefully, taking another thoughtful drink of saké. Orihime had no idea from where this second bottle had suddenly materialized. Perhaps there were pockets hidden away within her shihaksu. "No. My advice would be to get him drunk."

"Beg pardon…?" Orihime looked flummoxed, if not a bit put out. The Jyuubantai Fukutaicho couldn't resist pulling an impish look at the young girl's flabbergasted expression.

"It's your best bet, sweetie. What a man has thought drunk, he has thought sober. Get him pissed, and after that get him angry. You oughta know what his temper is like. Anger, or any kind of stress for that matter, changes a person's behavior. Reveals the core personality. Discover what he values and see if he puts you first."

"But where would I even get the alcohol? And I've never seen him drink! I don't—"

"It's the simplest method of getting him to lower his barriers," She resumed, minutely ignoring the interruption. "Although, you do have a point. I've never seen him sloshed, either. So getting him inebriated may be rather tricky…I'll see if I can help you out with that…" She fished distractedly in her robes, muttering. " Thought I might have some on me…but…Kyouraku Taicho owes me a favor…pretty sure he has some." She fixed Orihime with an inspired smile, announcing as she arose, "Give me some time…and I'll procure something potent. No point in being too obvious, or he'll have his guard up. Well, more than usual. Where are your quarters, by the way?"

More than a little bewildered, Orihime pointed out the location of her rooms, " They're over that way, toward the plum trees around the back." Satisfied, Rangiku nodded. "Good, good…well, Orihime-chan," she thumped her charismatically on the back, "…I'll be in touch!" Orihime stumbled forward, off-balance. Rangiku quickly used a shun-po to make her exit.

"It was nice seeing you! I'll expect some tea, the next time…" The sound of her voice diminished within the breeze as she vanished. Disappearing as though she had never been. The shadows had lengthened, uncurling in the twilight like waking cats as Orihime shivered. The incessantly unfamiliar grounds had cooled considerably in the growing dark, causing an unease to settle in her stomach. Turning, she headed for the main house, idly wondering what would be for supper. She would rather focus on that in favor of all that had transpired. Orihime pondered strange ideas better with a full stomach.

A/N: Please review! I am always open to new thoughts and ideas. Also, if there are any errors I might have missed, please let me know. Thank you all for your patience and for reading!
- 8
- 9
- 10
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

Heat Of The Night