Jealousy

#05: Bleach (Byakuya & Rukia)
...xXx...

Byakuya gazed at the setting sun while thinking about his adopted sister who was currently somewhere within the manor. Though Muramasa was no longer a threat, he still felt guilty for what he did to Rukia, or to her zanpakutō to be precise. Because of him, Rukia was discharged from Gotei 13. One cannot be called a Shinigami without a zanpakutō. Rukia still had her katana, but it would remain like that forever since Sode no Shirayuki was dead. Since the zanpakutō incident, he hadn't said a word of apology to her at all. Nowadays, he rarely saw Rukia as she seemed to avoid him and everyone else. This had put more weight to their already strained relationship. Sooner or later, he believed the strain would become too much, and he didn't want to imagine what would happen when it did.
His conscience was telling him to apologise, and he would. For her and only her, he would. Getting up from his comfortable zabuton, he started searching for Rukia. When he didn't find her in her chamber, he turned on his heels to the back garden, where he knew was her favourite spot. However, as soon as he saw the Sakura tree, he froze at what his eyes showed him. Leaning against the tree was Senbonzakura. What made him freeze was Rukia, who was lying down in his zanpakutō's lap. From her closed eyes and content face, he could only guess she was sleeping. Seeing how close Senbonzakura and Rukia made him burn with jealousy, but still, he kept his emotions under control.
Senbonzakura was aware of his master's presence even before he stepped into the back garden, but he made no move to leave. He was more than grateful that he had his mask on. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to hide his grin from his master. Unlike his master, he had come to Rukia and sought her forgiveness as soon as the Muramasa incident was over. Rukia had easily forgiven him, but in return, he would have to tell her everything about his master when he was young. After all, who knew his master better than his other half? During all of their conversations, he found out that Rukia didn't wish to know about his master's love life even though there was not much to say as Hisana was his master's first love.
He and his master were two as one, so he knew exactly how his master felt for his adopted sister who was currently sleeping soundly in his lap. From what Sode no Shirayuki told him, Rukia returned his master's feelings, but she wanted to keep her feelings hidden. As his master's zanpakutō, he was determined to bring these two souls together with a little push called jealousy. Even if he was his master's zanpakutō, his master would not tolerate any other guys touching his precious Rukia so intimately.
Brushing Rukia's bangs aside, he softly called, "Rukia."
Rukia stirred but remained asleep.
He then patted her cheek gently. "If you intend to sleep for the day, you have to go back to your room."
She muttered incoherently before going back to sleep.
Senbonzakura smiled to himself. This might get him into deep shit, but it would worth it in the end. Before he could bring Rukia close to him so that he could lift her up, his master had already taken her away. He blinked in surprise and withheld the urge to chuckle when he saw his master's furious eyes.
"What are you doing here, Senbonzakura?" His voice was ten times colder than usual.
Senbonzakura would not tell his master anything. They had talked a bit about his master, like usual, but he had asked Rukia if she loved his master as more than an adoptive brother or not. Rukia didn't answer his question, but she was probably not sure whether she should confide in him. Looking at his master's tight face, he tilted his head slightly.
"Spending time with Rukia," he answered calmly.
Before Byakuya could ask another question, Rukia muttered, "Senbonzakura…"
Good job, Rukia, Senbonzakura praised inwardly. If looks could kill, he would be dead by now. The way Rukia murmured his name broke his master's tight control as a dark aura surrounded him. His master rarely showed his emotions to others, but he was no stranger. Both of them knew that when they were alone, his master could be himself, which was something the man rarely did because of his responsibility as the head of Kuchiki Family.
Fortunately for him, the dark aura disappeared as soon as they heard Rukia whisper his master's name. His master's look was quite entertaining to say the least. His emotions changed in a span of seconds! Still, he received a hard glare before they left him alone. He shook his head and looked up at the Sakura tree, where his beautiful zanpakutō quietly waited for him. With ease, he leaped up and sat himself next to Sode no Shirayuki. After Kurotsuchi Taichou revived the snow-ice zanpakutō, she didn't return to her mistress immediately as she wished to do something, the very same thing he wished to do, for her mistress.
"I hope our plan will work, Senbonzakura-dono." A small smile played on her pale face.
"Didn't I tell you to stop calling me with honorifics, Shirayuki?"
She blushed softly. "But, that's impro—"
Senbonzakura grasped her hand. "Don't make me say it twice."
"Alright…" She squeezed his hand a bit. "As you wish, Senbonzakura."
Both turned to their other halves, watching them quietly.

...xXx...

Rukia felt as if she were floating, surrounded by her favourite rabbit clouds. Unlike the other nights since she lost Sode no Shirayuki, she felt so rested, so comfortable. When she felt the heat behind her, she realised that Senbonzakura had decided to stay with her. She was not surprised at all since she often fell asleep after he shared his stories about her adoptive brother. More than once, Senbonzakura would hold her to comfort her, and she let him think that she needed his comfort. She felt so shallow to take advantage of his guilt, but she truly needed the comfort since she couldn't get it from his master.
When Senbonzakura apologised to her about Sode no Shirayuki, she was a bit hurt. She understood why Byakuya did what he did, but why wouldn't he say a word of apology to her? Because of him, she was no longer a Shinigami now. Senbonzakura had tried to tell her that it was not his master's nature to apologise to anyone. He was, after all, the head of Kuchiki Family who was expected not to make any mistakes. Then, out of the blue, Senbonzakura had asked her about her feelings for Byakuya. Honestly, he left her quite dumbfounded from that question.
"Senbonzakura…"
"…"
"About your question yesterday, I think it doesn't really matter how I feel. Even if I love him, I don't think he will love me back."
Byakuya's mind turned blank. He had no idea whom she was talking about. Last night, he had meant to bring her back to her chamber and leave, but as he looked at her sleeping face, he could no longer resist the urge to hold her a bit longer. Once he held her for gods knew how long, he, too, fell asleep. He had awoken when the first light appeared. It was his only chance to leave without being caught, but he couldn't find the will to do so. In the end, he stayed until she shifted, the only sign she was awake. He was a bit angry and jealous when she thought it was Senbonzakura that held her. Nevertheless, he remained still until he heard her love confession.
"Love?" He didn't realise that he had said that out loud.
"Yeah… yesterday, you asked me if I love Byakuya or not, right?"
Byakuya's heart skipped a beat before beating furiously. He waited for her answer with bated breath.
"Well… I can finally say that I do love him as more than a brother. Though, he was not my brother by blood…"
As soon as the words finally sunk in, he instantly felt dizzy. Rukia loved him. His mind kept replaying her words. Rukia loved him. For years, he had been holding his feelings for her, and to finally hear her say what he had wanted to hear was a bit too much, too overwhelming. He didn't know since when he loved her as more than a sister. It just happened, and by the time he realised it, it was already too late for him to stop loving her. Yesterday, when he saw her with Senbonzakura was the last straw. He knew it was futile to deny his feelings any longer. He truly loved her with all his heart. The desire to have her was too great to be ignored now.
"Senbonzakura?"
A smile made its way to his lips as he pulled her closer to his chest. Burying his face in her short hair, he whispered, "Will you tell him?"
He felt bad for not telling her that he was not Senbonzakura, but he needed to hear more.
"Of course not! Byakuya will disown me as soon as he knows my feelings. He probably feels disgusted with me as well…"
His smile never wavered as he hummed.
"You won't tell him, will you?"
It was inevitable, so when she wanted to turn around, he let her. Once she realised whom she had been speaking to, she leaped away from him with a gasp of horror. Her face turned ashen as she stared at him in disbelief.
"Oh gods…" Rukia muttered under her breath. This must be a cruel joke. She just confessed her love to Byakuya! What was he doing here? The last thing she remembered was lying down in Senbonzakura's lap. She must have fallen asleep then as she couldn't remember meeting Byakuya. Since she was discharged from Gotei 13, she had been avoiding him as much as she could. Why? Why did he stay with her here? More importantly, why did he do this to her? Was he making fun of her? He must be laughing at her all the while listening to her heartfelt confession. Her vision blurred with tears, but she didn't let them out. Since she couldn't bear his disgusted look, she would leave.
After watching the unmoving petite woman before him for a while, he finally spoke, "Come here, Rukia."
His voice was gentle as he didn't want her to think he had rejected her. He loved her, so he wouldn't let her think otherwise. A frown marred his brow when she made no move to heed his words. When he was about to ask her one more time, he watched her dash to the door. Without a second thought, he blocked the way and caught her in her arms.
"Please… let me go, Nii-sama."
He threw away his cold façade. For once, he wanted to be himself, not the head clan of Kuchiki Family. "Don't you dare run away, Rukia."
Still holding her, he looked down at her. His breath hitched as he saw her tears escape her closed lids. Gently, he told her, "No… don't cry. Please don't cry…"
He asked her to open her eyes, but she refused. It was then he decided to tell her his feelings. He leaned down and gently kissed her closed eyes, her wet cheeks and then her lips. Once he pulled away, she finally opened her beautiful purple-grey eyes. "Please don't cry. I love you, Rukia…"
Rukia shook her head in denial as Byakuya wouldn't say he loved her. He wouldn't.
"You don't love me." she whispered hoarsely.
"Yes, I do."
"You—"
"Lying is beneath me," he interjected sternly.
"This must be a dream then…"
How stubborn could she be? He shook his head. "This is no dream, Rukia..."
To prove his words, he pinched her cheeks until she yelped. Slowly, she looked up at him with a joyful expression, and soon, new tears started welling in her eyes, but he knew they were happy tears. Her tearful smile told him so. Relieved that she finally understood and accepted his feelings, he claimed her lips once more, and this time, she returned his kiss. The rest of the world faded and left only the two of them in each other's embrace.
Nearby, Senbonzakura and Sode no Shirayuki were watching their masters with a smile on their faces. Not wanting to lose to his master, Senbonzakura took his mask off and gazed at the white-haired woman beside him before kissing her passionately. Their plan had worked out well, but both of them would make sure Byakuya and Rukia tied the knot before Sode no Shirayuki returned to her mistress.

The End

Thanks for reading.

Prev 1. Renji's Mission 2. Advice 3. Jealousy