A/N: I know it said in Chapter 6's note that I will definitely return… and I'm sorry for not! Anyway, here's the next chapter after… omw June? Wow, I really have been abandoning this fic. :(

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or anything copyrighted mentioned here.

Chapter 7: Interesting

She was in a warm place that was cold at the same time. The sun was a big smudge in the sky, too bright to discern its circular shape. The clouds were charged with pale yellow and there were scattered blue windows poking through. She beamed to herself, the dark sleeve of her shihakusho flapping in the strong wind. She turned her face upwards, and opened her eyes. Gazing in wonderment like a young child, she found herself standing in mid-air. A smile dawned on her face, lighting up her eyes as she studied her surroundings. Streaks of thin clouds flowed between her fingers, and as she moved her hands, she found the air followed her action and flew in the same direction…

"Hisana?"

Her eyes flicked open. Looking at the canvas against the wall in front of her, Hisana gave her new painting a once-over; it was a dark silhouette that resembled a Shinigami, standing amongst clouds and sunshine, arms outstretched with air speeding along them, snaking around the silhouette's body and bursting from its fingertips. She turned around, feeling disappointment that her fantasy was not real – only real in that it had become a painting. "Oh, Byakuya-sama, good morning," she said to him, bowing. Raising her head, she felt surprised; he had not been here for the lesson yesterday, even though he had apparently enjoyed their first one the day before. She had thought he would not return.

"Good morning." The corners of his mouth were upturned in a faint smile. "I hope you can forgive me for not attending our lesson yesterday. I was – unfortunately – in charge of a guest of my grandfather's."

"Please do not apologize," she said quickly, her fingers clasping the soft material of the sleeves of her white kimono. "Especially not to me," she added with a flush.

He strode further into the room. "Anyone is worthy of an apology, Hisana. I don't want you to lessen yourself."

Hisana's eyes widened fractionally and jerked from the floor to look at him. For the first time since meeting him, she did not blush when her eyes locked onto his. But she was overjoyed – so much, she felt a happy kind of pressure behind her eyes. Not a single soul had ever said that to her, not even when she was human: that she be treated equally. The silent moment that drifted by felt special. "Thank you, Byakuya-sama," she whispered.

"I see your hair is loose today."

She gave a cry, hands instantly flying up to grip her head. "I – oh no! Forgive me, Byakuya-sama, I completely forgot… I-"

He chuckled. "It looks perfect," he said, calmly interrupting her train of babbling. "I think you look even better with your hair down."

Her hands slipped lamely to her sides, the air leaving her in a tiny sigh. Ah, there it was; the blush had rapidly returned to her cheeks, and possibly the rest of her face, too. She lowered her eyes to the floor again, hoping that she did not still look like a shocked owl. "Thank you… Byakuya-sama," she said again, and could hear how shy she sounded. He may have been able to see her rosy pink blush, but at least he could not hear her heart pounding giddily.

He glanced in the direction of the doorway – someone was approaching. "Perhaps I should leave now; you look busy with your painting," he said distractedly.

"…As you wish, Byakuya-sama." This time, she felt her words wring with disappointment. He was watching the doorway with a frown on his face, as if waiting for something to happen. Surely he could not be so upset that his grandfather was nearing this room, or was it someone else…? She was about to ask him if something was the bother, when he turned to face her again.

"I will see you tomorrow, then." He started across the room, walking quickly, and was almost out of the door when a man suddenly appeared before him. Hisana gasped.

"Byakuya-san!" His voice was like a serpent, and sent shivers up her spine. "I almost lost you there – it's a good thing I am familiar with your reiatsu, now."

"Indeed, Kumofon." Byakuya took a step back into the room, blocking the open space between the sliding door and the doorframe. "Shall we move to the Seidai Courtyard? My grandfather has been working since the waking hours. We should give him some well-deserved company."

Kumofon cocked his head to the side, peering past Byakuya's shoulder and at the blushing, petite woman by the wall. "And who might this wonder be?"

"This wonder is the assistant-artist. She is incredibly busy with a painting at the moment." Byakuya looked over his shoulder and back into the room, his eyes piercing her. "You would rather be left alone, correct, Hisana?"

Hisana frowned. He had been talking so naturally to her, so… normally, and now he was speaking to her as though she was a noblewoman. How strange. "Oh… I don't mind, Byakuya-sama. I'd rather not inconvenience… you and your guest." Her eyes returned to the ground respectfully, but she did not fail to see the dismayed expression on his face. Was he upset that she was still present? Was she making herself a burden? Had she been too rude? She swallowed a lump in her throat as the worst possibilities came to mind.

"Ah, then I would be thrilled to enter!" exclaimed Kumofon, and Hisana saw him fully when he grasped the sliding door and flung it open so quickly that Byakuya's hair lifted. His hair was oily and up to his shoulders, a grey streak running down the length right from his temple, bangs tied behind his head; and his skin was akin to a sun-dried tomato – wrinkled and dull red, perhaps a tint of light brown. The obi of his shihakusho was bright orange, and when he held his right hand up in greeting, Hisana cringed at the length of the nail on his middle-finger, upon which sat a ring with two odd pincers.

Byakuya huffed. "Kumofon, my grandfather-"

"Kuchiki-san is perfectly able to wait. Just a few minutes won't make a difference to the large hours he has been working so far. Wouldn't you agree, Byakuya-san?"

Byakuya massaged his temples. "I would rather not take any chances."

Kumofon smiled brightly. "Then feel free to go on without me. I'm able to catch up."

For a moment, Byakuya stared doubtfully between Hisana and Kumofon, as if he were arguing with himself. Hisana's fingers, clasped in front of her chest, fidgeted nervously as Byakuya's dark grey eyes came to a rest on her. Byakuya cleared his throat softly, angling his head to glance with a deadpan look at Kumofon. "I would rather not be rude. This is Hisana, the assistant-artist. Hisana, this is Kumofon, a guest of my grandfather's."

Kumofon surprised her by snatching her hand in both of his, shaking it enthusiastically. "It's certainly a pleasure, little dear. More than a pleasure, even. Call me Kumo." He grinned into her face, earning a weak but confused smile from Hisana. Suddenly, with the energy of a hungry dog chasing after a bone, he looked up at the piece she had been painting and began talking rapidly. "Interesting, that painting. Wonderful colours. Might there be symbolism in it? Interesting, indeed. Your technique is beautiful; I'm quite interested by it. Did you find it interesting, girl? You must have…"

"I'm sure all of Hisana's work is very interesting, Kumofon," droned Byakuya.

Hisana fiddled with her sleeve, glancing between the two Shinigami. "Uh… it was interesting, I suppose…"

"There we go!" cheered Kumo with affected delight. "Nice to see an artist interested in what she does. Shows that the artist cares. Since you seem so dedicated to your work, would you be interested in painting something for me?" Eyes creased with his stretched grin, he pressed a hand to the small of Hisana's back and began to steer her towards the door. "Perhaps we can discuss this-"

Byakuya started. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded.

"We have business to discuss." Kumo waved him off, and began to half-push a bewildered Hisana with him.

She frowned up at him, trying to halt them, but he kept on moving her forward. "Kumo-san," she protested, whipping her head around wildly to try and look at him. What was he doing – and why was she literally being dragged into it? Her instinctive feeling was to resist, not go with him. "I-"

"Never worry, Hisana. The Fon estate will welcome you warmly." Kumo smiled and ruffled her hair. Just as they got to the doorway, he looked over his shoulder to bid Byakuya farewell – but found himself staring at empty space. A frown wrinkling his forehead, he glanced back at Hisana… and found that she too was not where she was a moment ago. Spinning around in confusion, he found Byakuya standing on the other side of the room, clutching Hisana's small hand in his, but having angled her so that he was partly concealing her. Kumo quickly assumed an unbothered air, smiling sweetly. "Ah, your Shunpo abilities are certainly a marvel, Byakuya-san."

"Indeed." His tone was clipped, expression plain. "Kumofon, my advice to you is that before trying to enter into deals of sorts with employees that are not yours, consult their employers first."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"It would be wise if you did. Now, if we can leave Hisana to complete her work…"

Kumo nodded curtly. "Of course. Your grandfather…"

"Start ahead to the Seidai Courtyard; I will catch up."

Another nod and Kumo left the room, whistling a cheerful tune as he went down the corridor. Hisana watched him go with large eyes before peering up at Byakuya, whose tense frame visibly relaxed – but he did not release his hold on her hand; her own one was tingling under his touch, her heartbeat picking up ever so slightly. He turned to her, a gently concerned expression entering his face, and she hoped he did not notice how her breath caught in her chest as she met his grey eyes with her violet pair.

"Hisana," he began, "forgive me. I should not have let him near you, or offend you in such a way…"

"Please, Byakuya-sama, do not worry yourself with me," she said softly, surprising herself by not stuttering. "I'm sure he meant no harm."

His expression was a worried one. "I hope you are right – I have an uncomfortable feeling towards him. I cannot be sure of what it is, but… promise me that you will stay away from him."

"I…" She could not help being taken aback. "What if he approaches me?"

Byakuya's hold on her hand tightened, but it was still very gentle, not hurting her little fingers at all. She knew that she should not, but she could not help liking the feeling of his hand around hers. "Then you will tell him that your orders are not to interact with any… others," he finished awkwardly. "Nobody outside of the Kuchiki family. Will you promise to be cautious? Not get involved with anything to do with him?"

Hisana swallowed when she saw the pleading tint to his eyes, but nodded quickly. "Yes, Byakuya-sama. I promise."

He sighed with relief, slowly releasing her hand. "Thank you. I suppose I'll be seeing you tomorrow, for our lesson?"

She smiled, flexing her fingers beneath the draping sleeve of her kimono. "If that is your wish, Byakuya-sama."

He returned her smile with a light one of his own. "It is." As he turned to make his exit, he paused in the doorway, glancing over his shoulder one last time. "And Hisana?"

"Yes, Byakuya-sama?"

"Wear your hair loose more often. It's very becoming."

Hisana's eyes widened as he sped off with his rapid Shunpo, vanishing before her. After a few moments of muted awe, her face broke out into a beam, cheeks flushing spiritedly. She knew perfectly well that it might be improper, but the compliment seemed to brighten her mood, and a little laugh escaped her lips as she went back up to the canvas upon which her interesting painting sat, flexing the tingling fingers of the hand he had held so softly. She forgot all about the peculiar encounter with Kumofon, and was only able to think of the fascinating heir to the Kuchiki estate.

"He is a very interesting man," she noted to herself, swerving the paintbrush over the paper.

A/N:

Cuteness! And Kumofon is seriously odd. Like, I'm the one who wrote him and made him like that, and I'm still freaked out by his oddnessnessness. Oh well, whatcha gonna do? Point and laugh at him, that's what. Moving on… thanks for reading! And for the awesome reviews, alerts etc. I appreciate them tons. :)