Byakuya opened his eyes to look at an unfamiliar ceiling. He glanced about the room, trying to discern his location when the previous night replayed itself in his mind. She always got like this when it rained. He gave a curious glance to his empty lap and noticed that someone had covered him up. He wondered where Rukia was, as he was always the first out of bed.

Closing his eyes with a sigh, he didn't even need to feel for the pulse of her spirit energy. Not too far from here, somewhere on the grounds. Byakuya got up from her bed and made his way to his rooms to gather some fresh clothes. Rukia had been the only person to ever really get to know him. She had been the only person to remain by his side, no matter what. She was the only person who believed in him, regardless of the things he had done in the past, or the attitude he presented. And she did all of this because she knew him and trusted him. Not because he was the captain of the 6th division, or the head of the Kuchiki clan.

Byakuya felt something flutter in his chest and knew that it was too late. The pain was entirely gone, she had removed his walls and now his heart was beating fiercely, once again. He wasn't so sure how this morning would go, considering her state last night. After changing out of his night clothes, Byakuya decided to go for a walk in the gardens to try and clear his head. Maybe a quick stroll would help the pieces fall into place.

What he hadn't really considered was that Rukia had had the same thought. Well, maybe he had, but he hadn't expected to find her leaning against a tree and smiling into the sunshine. He also didn't expect for her to take notice of him and turn that beaming smile on him. "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" She asked, motioning with a hand towards the fluffy white clouds, the still dew dampened grass and the rest of the grounds. "Mm." he conceded, his eyes never leaving her shining face.

Rukia didn't really worry about how he would react. She figured he would do one of two things. He would either pretend it hadn't happened or he would think it over… Maybe both. She had enjoyed the deepest, most peaceful sleep she had ever had in all of her existence. And she had opened her eyes to a beautiful face, so serene, and covered him up before sitting down to breakfast and walking to the gardens. She felt content and thought that maybe the rain wasn't entirely bad, after all.
"Rukia…" Byakuya sighed, "What are we doing?" He already knew, she did, too. A wise woman had once told him, "Our steps seal fate." He'd thought then that she was referring to the shunpo games; it seemed that the words had a double meaning. There was no longer any need to step in circles around one another.

It was already too late to even think of going back now. And Byakuya was a logical, rational man; he would do what was necessary of him. And that would be to remain at Rukia's side until it was no longer an option. Though the act itself wouldn't really be all too new, the context has changed dramatically.
They left the gardens together, wearing similar expressions. Rukia had closed off most of her face and Byakuya's had relaxed just a fraction. The hectic staff stopped dead and they all stared in shock as they saw the pair enter. The advisors wouldn't be pleased with this and they weren't looking forward to dealing with an angered Byakuya.

He had taken Senbonzakura out to the training fields for the day, and for the first time, he had allowed Rukia to follow. She wasn't ready to practice with him just yet, but she had always wanted to watch him train. Her eyes were wide with admiration, her face split in a smile of pure awe. She watched as the sunlight reflected off of the cherry blossoms and danced on the muscles of his back. She watched as his hair whipped around his face, the beautiful destruction of an innocent tree as his back snapped rigid and his wrists flicked. She was considering how like a dance this was, how graceful and mesmerizing a sight. How one could feel the rhythm flowing through the air, feel the lure of the song. She wondered why it felt so intimate, as if he were dancing only for her. Behind her eyes there was a flicker as her entire face went slack and an 'o' of amazement formed on her lips when she saw that the cherry blossoms were dancing around her. Byakuya was standing only a few feet away and she could feel his intense gaze as she watched his wrist flicker just so and they swirled around her and some caressed her face while others landed in a flashy show before sputtering and reforming elsewhere on the ground at her feet. She couldn't understand how such a deadly weapon could be so gentle.

Byakuya watched the transformation in her face when she realized that Senbonzakura was dancing only for her. He watched as she lifted a cupped hand to try to catch a lone petal and he complied, allowing a single blossom to rest in her palm. She had never been more beautiful than she was in a sea of cherry blossoms. He had wondered how it had taken them so long to get to where they were. Everything seemed so obvious now, how had they both missed this?

Rukia caught Byakuya's gaze and she flashed him the most unreserved, care-free and happy smile without any effort at all. Her eyes swam with the pure unabashed joy she was feeling and she didn't feel the need to hide it any longer. She wondered what tomorrow would bring and she realized that she was glad he'd convinced her to bring Sode no Shirayuki. She thought with a small flutter in her chest, about spending the rest of her life with him. She thought of spending their lives side by side, once two broken entities, now a whole person, forever, as she went into her first release. "First dance, white moon!" had barely escaped her lips when she froze an entire stream of petals, each held in perfect suspension, showcasing the beauty for all of the world to see. Only, the entire world was not around, it was an exotic display of soul crossing that no one else would ever get to witness.

Byakuya had actually let his guard down, just a bit, but he hadn't noticed it until he felt his eyes go wide, his mouth form a wide grin. With that realization came another; he didn't particularly care at this moment. He watched the look of excitement on her face as she slowly stepped towards him, resheathing her zampakuto. A new thought dawned on him, which only made his smile grow; it was quite refreshing, he noted, that in a world where no one knew your true face you could find one who understood.

They returned home and went to their separate bath houses. After cleaning and redressing into something much more suitable, they sat down to their meal. They both ate their dinner in silence, sneaking glances at each other from across the table. Time seemed to creep by and the tension was growing thicker by the second. By the time they had finished their servings, the minutes had passed like days. Rukia could hardly keep herself from running into whichever sleeping quarters her feet would carry her. It had been far too long since she had felt another man's embrace. And that man had never been Byakuya Kuchiki. She bursts into his rooms shaking and nearly out of breath only to have him mere seconds behind her and slamming the door behind his back. He leans back and rests his shoulders against the door with his eyes closed, a big grin and a heaving chest. "Rukia," he gasps out, "I think I may be too old for this." Her laughter tinkles through the room as she rushes over to him, throwing her arms around his chest. "That's not true." She mutters, resting her forehead against his clavicle. The sweetness only lasts a few seconds before the heat just becomes too much. Before she even has the chance to loosen her grip on him he has a hand in her hair, guiding her face to his as he leans in. Before she can even gasp from the quickness of his movements, his mouth takes hers. She feels like she's drowning; with every breath she takes, she can feel his presence filling her lungs, coursing through her veins, pumping into her heart. 'There are worse way to die, I suppose.' she thinks fleetingly... before her mind wanders to something a little more… urgent.

Byakuya led the way to his bed, carefully guiding her onto her back. "'Oh, Gods." Byakuya whispered, elegant fingers trailing down her stomach. It had been far too long since he had experienced anything like this. "So incredibly beautiful…" he murmured, leaning in to press his lips to hers. Rukia's arms went around his neck, one hand curling itself in his hair, as she felt herself being drawn into him. Byakuya leaned onto one elbow and pulled back from the kiss only to rest his forehead against hers. "Byakuya…" she whispers, her voice trembling with the need coursing through her. He lifted his head as she pulled his face back to hers and their lips crashed together, the need and unspoken desire driving their frenzy. Byakuya's still free hand found its way to her neck and he caressed his way down her shoulder, over her side and made his way to her breast. She hummed into his mouth as he ran a thumb over her nipple and she arched into him, causing him to let loose a low growl. Forgetting the ingrained patience, his hand traveled slowly down her stomach and under her waistband, earning him another small cry. He slipped a single slim finger inside of her, and he nearly whimpered at how warm and wet she was. After he had inserted another finger and felt her clench down as she arched yet again and released another moan, accompanied by a whimper of "Byakuya!" he cracked. Every ounce of self control he had ever possessed disappeared and he removed his fingers, ignoring her cry of complaint at the loss as he wrapped his fingers around himself and guided the head of his member into her warm and throbbing entrance. He was struggling to control himself, knowing that he should savor this moment, when she lifted herself and slammed into him. She wrapped her legs around his back and threw her head back with a low howl. Byakuya was drowning; she was everywhere, filling his every sense with her very essence. He could no sooner stop than he could sprout wings and here she was, pulling at his hair, scratching at his back and making those delicious noises and all he could think to do was bury his face in her throat and bring them both to the ecstasy that they both had denied themselves for so long.

Byakuya woke to a shivering Rukia. He sat a bit, careful not to wake her, and pulled the blankets over them both as he pulled her closer and wrapped his body around her protectively. He had finally gotten her and now he wouldn't let her go.

Fin

A/N: I am super, terribly sorry. Seriously.. I meant for this to be about half this size, much more angsty(my specialty and all) and not… smutty? Or awful. Which it is… And Byakuya is so awfully just… I'm sorry.

Mainly Byakuya's P.O.V. with some Rukia P.O.V. thrown in…

DISCLAIMER: I do not own bleach. This story is mine but the characters are not.

A/N: This story begins after the S/S Arc, but may not follow the timeline. Slightly AU. This chapter is rated T. Overall story is rated T just to be safe. Rating and spoilers may change as the story progresses. I will add a warning anytime this happens.. This chapter contains CITRUS.

This is my first fanfic, though not my first writing/story. I won't beg you to review, but if I feel that no one is interested, I won't promise completion. :) Not a threat, I promise. I just see no point in continuing something if I get bored and no one cares. :) I do my own beta'ing.