[LOG] Meeting Rangiku-chan~
Byakuya carefully examined the scrap of paper with Rangiku's telephone number on it; it was laying on his desk by his many text books. In one hand he has his cellphone, in the other, a cup of coffee. Using his thumb, he dialed the number carefully and held the phone to his ear, blowing his bangs out of his eyes with a short "pfft" motion while he waited for a response.
Half laying, half sitting draped over the armrest of the couch Rangiku sighed as she stared at the tv, flipping aimlessly amongst the channels, trying to find something that would keep her interested for more then five minutes. Just as she was about to give up the phone rang making her jerk slightly as she grabbed for it. "Moshi moshi, Rangiku speaking~"
"Hello. It is Kuchiki Byakuya," he said with his usual calm, before taking a sip of coffee. Of course the scrap with the phone number would be right by his text books... Oh... gawd... how they called to him... But he had resolved himself to one day without plans; that included text books. "How are you, Rangiku-san?"
"Ah, Bya-chan!~" Smiling Rangiku sat up in the couch and pulled her feet up under her as she tried to keep from snicker. "I'm fine thank you, a bit bored since I have absolutely nothing to do. How about you then? I'm... actually surprised. I didn't think you'd call~" Twirling a lock of hair between her fingers her grin grew even more.
"....." She actually used the nick name, he thought haughtily. "I am fine. Thank you. I am trying what is known as an unstructured day. So... I suppose I am bored, as well..." The way he said it made it seem like he was new to the experience.
"Haha, so want to do something then Bya-chan~" Drawing out on the honorific in a playful matter Rangiku almost felt evil for a short while but for some reason his stiff and somewhat cold composure made her want to crack it and she would do all she could to make that happen.
"..." The desk chair at Byakuya's desk was a swivveling one that could go degrees, so he used his feet to move it around so that his back was facing his beloved text books, to ignore the silent calls. "I suppose. What would you like to do?"
Seeing how it was still a weekday and school tomorrow she assumed that trying to get him to join her for a drink was out of the question. "Coffee or some ice cream?" She asked as she got up from the couch with a light sigh, if she was going out she would need to change.
"....It is possible to have both at the same time. I know of a coffee cafe that serves both coffee and ice cream." Sugar-free, too. Sugar was bad for the health, and made one hyper and over-active. Kuchiki Byakuya... did not... get... hyper.
"Oh, sounds like a good place. Where's it at? I mean so I can get there, unless you're planning on picking me up and making this into a real date Bya-chan~" Making her way up the stairs Rangiku once more bit back a giggle.
".....Pardon?" It hadn't occured to him that he would pick her up. But... "I suppose I would pick you up. Where is your home?"
"It's alright I can get there on my own, I'm just pulling your leg some." Walking over to the closet she looked over the pile of clothes that still hung there. "So how do you want me?"
"Alive?" He'd been one breath away from saying 'medium to well-done', which was how he liked to have his steaks and ham burgers cooked, but he didn't.
"Well I'm not planning on dying anytime soon. But I mean how dressed up do you want me?" Her grin grew, yes she was without a doubt going to have a great time with this one.
"How you dress does not matter to me." Outward appearences are only outward, of course. "You may wear whatever you please."
"Aw, thank you Bya-chan~. So where is this place and when do you want to meet there?" Beginning to undress Rangiku pulled out a pair if jeans and a pale pink top from the closet before she started digging around for some fitting shoes, the right shoes being the most important thing for her.
"On the corner of th street and nd street. A block away from the college's mens' dormitory rooms." Finishing his cup of coffee, Byakuya went into the little kitchen area and washed it out, then set it on the counter to dry. Crossing the room to the door, he sat down and pulled on his shoes, cradling the cell phone between his shoulder and ear. Unlike Rangiku's choices, he wore black slacks, a crisp, white button-down shirt and a forest green sweater over top of that, and his shoes were black mens' boots.
"Um, okay I think I know where that is. I'll meet you there in say ?" Not quite being sure she would be on time unless she hurried she pulled out a pair of light pink heels and grinned.
"Alright. I will see you there." Hanging up his cell phone, he grabbed his wallet and keys--he had a car, but he rarely drove it, as he preferred walking--, pocketed all three items and headed out of the dormitories, nodding to a few upperclassmen as he passed them in the hall. Once out on the street, he pocketed his hands and walked along the sidewalk toward the cafe.
Rangiku spent little time in changing and only ran a hand though her hair as she glanced in the mirror, apparently this mornings subtle make up was still doable so she didn't bother fixing it up. Once down the stairs again she grabbed her cell, keys to the house and a jacket as she headed out, locking the door behind her before she took off down the street humming happily on a song she heard on the tv not too long ago. Today was shaping up to be a very good day.
Because his appearence was not very important to him, Byakuya reached the cafe first, and waited outside, seated at one of the outdoor tables, to wait for Rangiku. He took the oppurtunity to blow his bangs out of his face again.
Seeing a character seated outside of the cafe that looked very much like her 'date' made the grin on Rangiku's face grow and she gave him a cheeky wave as she approached. "Oha, Bya-chan~"
"Hello, Rangiku-san." He stood and inclined his head politely. He went to the door to the cafe and opened it for her, letting some of the warmth and light out. "Have you had a thought as to what you would like?"
"No, not really though I would appriciate it if you stop calling me Rangiku-san, just Rangiku is enough." Nodding a thanks to him she stepped inside and looked around. The place seemed nice to say the least so without further ado she threw Byakuya a wink as she moved to sit down at one of the tables. Removing her jacket she hung it over the back of the chair.
"That is informal. I do not know you weel enough to call you Rangiku. Rangiku-san or Rangiku-dono is fine.." He sat down across from her, setting his cellphone on the table next to him so it didn't break in his pocket when he sat down. In the middle of the table was a little metal device that held the menus, but it was also in the way of their eye contact so he moved it slightly, taking one of the little menus and handing it to her, taking another for himself. "Have whatever you like," he said calmly, examining his menu.
"Rangiku-chan in that case if you need to be so formal." Snickering slightly she shook her head as she flipped through the menu and not taking all too long to decide what she wanted before she placed it back down. Leaning forward she placed her elbows on the edge of the table and rested her chin in the palm of her hands, staring at him with a curious look on her face.
...He could play that game, too. If she could call him Bya-chan, he could call her Rangiku-dono. Without looking up from his menu, he asked calmly, "What is it, Rangiku-dono?"
Giving a small pout she simply kept staring at him. "Nothing much, why does it bother you that I'm watching you?"
"Not at all. You seemed to have a question or something to say, that is all." He set his menu back in the metal holder and sat back, folding his hands on the table top. "Have you decided what you would like?"
"I'll take a vanilla ice cream, strawberry topping, thank you." Tilting her head slightly she gave him a smile as she started wondering just how much it would take to get a guy like him to crack and loose that stiff exterior anyway.
"Alright." He got up, dusted himself off although there was no dust, and went to the counter, leaving his cell phone on the table. The cafe required customers to place their orders, and then the cashier would bring their food to them. He placed Rangiku's order, then his own--a black coffee and plain sugar-free vanilla yogurt--and then waited for the order to be rung up so he could play.
Leaning back in her seat Rangiku let her eyes trail over him as he got up and gave a small grin as he walked away. Well so far so good, at least he hadn't gone nuts on her yet or anything similar, it felt nice to get out of the house and away from everything for once. Staring out the window with a slightly distanced look she started drawing some light patterns on the table using he nails.
Handing the cashier his credit card, Byakuya waited while it was run through, hands in his pockets again and he glanced around calmly, missing the look she cast him and, seeing her looking out the window, took the oppurtunity to blow his bangs out of his face and tuck them behind his ear. Taking the pen from the cashier, he signed the receipt, then took his card and went back to the table. "It should be only a few moments before they bring it out," he told her, in a slightly quiet voice so as not to startle her from her reverie.
"Well I think I can manage until then~" Breaking her gaze from whatever it was she was staring at outside she looked back at Byakuya with a smile. "So, what brought over this break of habit of yours?"
"By habit I suppose you mean, my schedules?"
"Yes, you seem to always be following it so what caused you to break it today?" She was indeed curious as to why a habit creature as him would break his habit just like that
"Am I not allowed to have a small change every now and then? I have heard that women love to shop for possessions and clothing. That is a hobby and habit, is it not? But surely you don't do it every day." He folded his hands again.
"No, actually I don't I try and keep my shopping to a minimum right now. I don't think Shiro will appreciate me spending too much money on that right now." No, in fact the shoes she'd bought when seeing Ishida a few weeks back was the last thing she'd purchased and she didn't need more things to drag on when she was moving. Besides she had enough shoes to last her a lifetime, well half a life time at least.
"It was a general statement." He sat back when the the cashier brought their order; he hadn't noticed it but he'd been inclining forward during their short conversation.
"Well I don't think I'm all to used to being placed in the category of general women~" Reaching for her ice cream her grin grew even more and as she happily took a bite out of it a slightly blissful look appeared on her face.
"...I suppose that is true." The corner of his mouth twitched, ever so slightly, but it was quickly repressed and replaced with his mask when he took his coffee and took a sip.
"This is really good you know, you should try some." Licking her lips she scooped up some ice cream and held the spoon out to him with an almost childlike expression in her eyes.
"I have my own." He gestured to his frozen yogurt. "And I believe that that ice cream has some sugar content."
"Aww, come one~ Just one bite?" Leaning forward some more her smile grew.
"No thank you." He eyed her warily.
"Pretty please?" Pouting slightly she batted her eyes at him as she waved the spoon. "Just one bite, for me?"
"...I prefer not to eat things containing sugar." He leaned his back to avoid the spoon.
"Awww, come on. Please, just one bite Byakuya-sama. I promise it won't kill you~"
"How do you know that?" He hid his mouth behind his coffee cup.
"Look, what's the worst that can happen? It can be a bit sweet but that's it. There's hardly enough sugar in it to cause any damage what so ever." He was acting like a stubborn kid and Rangiku found it most amusing.
"Wouldn't Rangiku-dono prefer to eat her own ice cream...?"
"There's plenty left for me now, please just eat it." Her smile dropped a bit as she tilted her head, her eyes still fixed on him.
"...." She said please. He couldn't refuse. It would be rude of him. He held his hand out for the spoon.
Biting down on the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning like a fool she handed the spoon over still pouting slightly as she looked at him expectedly.
"..." He ate the bit of ice cream off of it and handed it back to her, but stubbornly refused to swallow the substance, keeping it on the inside of his cheek.
"See, it wasn't that bad now was it." Allowing a small smile to spread on her lips she accepted the spoon back and licked of the rest of the ice cream on it.
His cheeks flushed the very lightest of pinks, but it was once again repressed. He couldn't respond with the ice cream in his mouth, so he took his napkin and made a show of wiping his mouth off, while he really carefully spit the ice cream into the napkin. "I suppose."
"You suppose?" Rangiku raised a brow as she took another scoop of ice cream. "Is that some kind of fancy way of telling me you didn't like it?"
"It is a roundabout way of saying..." that I didn't eat it... "...that you are correct. I do not like ice cream. That is why I have frozen yogurt." He indicated his cup.
"I like regular ice cream better then frozen yogurt though I think I pick mom's sorbet over anything else. Especially raspberry sorbet." Smiling she shrugged some as she took another bite of her sweet treat.
"I personally prefer Italien ice to yogurt or sorbet or ice cream. There is a larger variety of flavors." He picked up his own spoon and scooped a bite of his yogurt. "But I am not aware of any stores that serve it."
"Yeah, unfortunately neither am I. So I'm kind of stuck making my own whenever I get a craving, if you're nice maybe I'll make some for you as well." Leaning forward towards him slightly Rangiku gave him a grinning wink before popping the spoon into her mouth.
"...I am nice," he half-muttered before taking another bite of his yogurt. An interesting thing about Byakuya was that, while he disliked sweet things, he also had a very low tolerance for cold things, and taking a second bite of yogurt so quickly gave him an attack from that age-old enemy... brain-freeze.He sucked in his breath quickly and reached for his coffee in an attempt to warm himself up again.
"Touché~" Leaning back in her seat again she kept grinning as she scraped more of the ice cream out of the cup, proceeding to lick it off as she started at Byakuya. "So what's with the mixing yogurt and coffee thing?" Most people didn't take her for someone that payed attention to the minimal details whenever she was around people but she did, one of the few good things of growing up alongside a boy that never expressed anything - it had sharpened her senses to an almost uncanny level, she just didn't use it so often.
He didn't answer at first, and just kept sipping his coffee until his head wasn't as cold, then took another deep breath, exhaling slowly. "The yogurt.. is cold. The coffee is not. I dislike cold things, to an extent. It is a good combination."
Rangiku bit down hard on the inside of her cheek to keep from blurting out the first thing that came into her mouth and instead just nodded slightly. "So you're not the guy to call when wanting a midnight walk in the middle of winter then?"
"I enjoy walks at night. The winter does not bother me very much, as long as I have a warm coat. Why?"
"Well you said you disliked cold things and that was the coldest I could think of right now." Looking off to her right she tried hiding the very light blush that was spreading over her cheeks.
"I would not participate in swimming at night in the middle of winter. I suppose that is much colder then walking...?"
"Well it's not that bad, really. As long as you have somewhere warm to curl up afterwards." Oh yes the joys of ice bathing, not the most pleasant experience she'd had but an interesting one at least.
"....you have gone swimming in the middle of the night in winter?" He all but openly stared at her in slightl shock and amazement.
Chuckling she looked back at him and winked. "Once, it was an interesting experience and not all to unpleasant I must admit."
"Drae I inquire as to why you were swimming in the middle of the night in winter?" He took another bite of his yogurt, then a sip of his coffee to cancel out the cold.
"Yes but I'm not sure I dare to answer. No, but kidding aside it was during a trip I was on with some friends two years back. We went up north to a small cabin in between Christmas and New Years."
"Oh. I see." He paused, then sipped his coffee again. "I have never been to a cabin," he said matter-of-factly.
"Never?" Now it was her turn to look at him with a clearly shocked expression.
He nodded shortly. "The only times I travel is to go to my summer home, during the summer vacation from school. I suppose this Christmas I shall visit an aunt or grandparent. It's early still so I have not decided."
"So you've never, ever been to a cabin?" How anyone could have evaded an experience like that was just unthinkable to her - a couple of friends, movies, good food and under-aged drinking at a cabin in the middle of nowhere without parental supervision was something everyone needed to experience.
Unfortunatly, if Byakuya were to tag along, he would have been all the parental supervision they needed, regardless of whether or not some of the guests were older then him. "Indeed I have not. I suppose I must, then? What is it like?"
"It was amazing. I haven't been up there in too long but I've got some very great memories since that winter and the summers I used to spend up there. It's, well in short it's an experience I wouldn't want to be without."
"And you go to this cabin with friends..?" he inquired carefully, stirring his yogurt around. His voice was curious, but his expression didn't change in the slightest, like always.
"Yeah, usually. Friends or your special someone, if you have anyone like that. Though I suspect the last might be a bit more romantic than the first." Scraping up the last remains of her ice cream Rangiku gave a light shrug.
"I see..." he said thoughtfully stirring his coffee a bit. "Perhaps this winter I will find a cabin instead of visiting a relative."
"Well if you want too I can always give you a few good pointers and unless you mind I might tag along~" Biting down on the spoon she glanced up at him through a lock of hair.
"Perhaps you may... and perhaps you can join me to my summer home this summer.... it's quite boring by myself." He gave her a short glance before sipping his coffee again.
Blinking she gave him a stunned look before a grin threatened to split her face and she nodded. "I, well thanks. I think I'd like that very much~"
"You might consider bringing a bathing suit... it is right by the beach." He twirled his yogurt spoon between his long fingers. "I am considering going there for spring break, as well. The dolphins come around that time."
"Does a bikini work? I don't think I own a once pieced bathing suit."
"Whatever you wish is fine." Ineer-Byakuya paused to wonder if she could even fit her bust into a bikini... but he pushed those thoughts away. "Where are these... cabins... you speak of, located?"
"Well for winter cabins anywhere high on the mountainside is good, summer cabins I would say Sado or maybe outside of Osaka. That is unless you wish to leave the country." Placing the spoon back in the empty cup in front of her Rangiku gave him a smile.
"I read that there are natural hot springs in the mountains... perhaps I will find one." He examined his yogurt for a bit, then offered her a spoonful in return for the spoonful she gave him of her ice cream.
"Mmm sounds nice~" Leaning forward over the table she didn't bother taking the spoon from him and instead just licked the yogurt off of it.
He blinked, eyes wide, then blushed ever so slightly at her forwardness, and withdrew the spoon, clearing his throat a little. "I suppose it would be.. I've only ever been in man-made hot springs... have you found them in your retreats to the mountains?"
"No, I've actually never been to a natural hot spring, ever." Most of her trips had been to beaches and crowd filled places where no one asked question and she didn't have to worry about being along and getting caught up in her thoughts - thoughts of a life she was getting rid off soon.
He nodded curtly. "I hope to find one.. soon enough." He sat back, thoughtful for a moment in one of his comfortable silences, before speaking again. "Who is 'Shiro'?"
"Shiro? Hitsugaya Toushirou he's..." Hell what was she to tell him 'he's my son'? Well that would surely get a reaction out of him if nothing else but that was what he was according to law. "Well he's... I'm his legal guardian." Her eyes dropped down to the table.
Needless to say, Byakuya what-the-fuck-ed twice as hard as he normally did, his head turning rather quickly to stare at her. "..e..excuse me?"
Leaning back she twisted her hand in a nervous fashion. "We.. we both lost our parents in a plane crash just before Valentine's. If anything ever happened to my parents, his would get guardianship of me and the other way around. But since both our parents died and we were both juveniles they were going to adopt us up. Since I'm turning in September I would have been kept in custody while Shiro would have been adopted away. I pulled a few strings and just over three weeks back I became a parent according to law."
He paused, in an attempt to comprehend and remember all of this information. "You did not do.. anything illegal did you?" he asked carefully. He wasn't sure yet what 'pulling a few strings' meant in Rangiku's way of thinking.
Laughing softly Rangiku shook her head before she offered Byakuya a smile. "No, no. Unless spending hours and hours on end in the courtroom and with lawyers is classified as illegal. I meant I collected a few favors from people that owed my parents some things, I needed a lawyer that specialized on adoptions and family law."
"Oh." He nodded his approval and understanding of this, sitting back and examining his coffee. Because she had confided what appeared to be something of a secret or painful subject to him, he felt he owed her the favor. "My parents died when I was young, as well. Of sickness," he said bluntly, before taking a sip of his coffee.
"Huh? Wow, I didn't know. How'd you cope?" She wasn't sure how to deal with this whole thing as of yet, it had only been little more then six weeks since her parents death and she was still living in what felt like an episode out of The Twilight Zone
"I was shifted from relative to relative during my youth. My father's brother was sworn to run the family business until I am twenty-one and finished college, and my parents' trust fund for me pays for that, and now I live in my own dormitory." He sipped his coffee again. "The summer home I spoke of was a family retreat, but no one but myself goes there now."
"Must have been pretty bad for a small child." Cringing slightly Rangiku resisted the urge to lean over and grasp his hand, he knew what she was going through and even though he didn't have the exact same situation he could still understand. "Why does no one else use it? I mean if you don't mind me asking."
"I suppose because they grew tired of it. I am the youngest in my family except for a few small cousins, but eventually the family branchs out and finds new ways to spend their summers. Vacationing to theme parks, and so on..." He raised and dropped his shoulder. He still enjoyed the big old house by the shore, and had since childhood. He also enjoyed the quiet times spent there. Even if other people, such as Rangiku, were to come with him, he suspected the quiet would remain, and he would find it refreshing to show new eyes his old childhood haunts.
"How can anyone grow tired of something like that? It sounds like it's an amazing place. If your relatives are foolish enough to grow tired of something beautiful then they're truly foolish. Natural beauty never dies unless it is tampered with in some outside way." Placing her elbow on the table Rangiku once more rested her head on the palm of her hand.
"That is what I have always thought. It is a very nice place. The house is surrounded with trees and there is a bit of a stairwell going down to the shore. There is also a cave in the hills, unless it has been blocked now." He sipped his coffee, then paused to finish it off and set the cup down. "The location is a mile away from the neighboring town with only one bus route, but I drive up nowadays. As a child, I was taken there by a nana."
Closing her eyes Rangiku tried imagining how it must look like and a small, relaxed smile spread on her lips. What she wouldn't give to see something like that, to be able to feel it, to feel the nature surrounding her. "Sounds amazing." She whispered in an almost awestruck voice.
He nodded. He liked the expression she had; it was the sort he expected from new comers. "It is. Nearest the house are cherry trees and they bloom during the summer when I visit at that time. There is something there every time I visit. Dolphins in the spring, that you can see from the balconies facing the sea, and cherry blossoms in the summer. They are only buds in the spring." He paused to think of anything else.
Opening her eyes the serene look on her face remained as she watched him with her pale blue eyes. For someone who seemed to stiff and almost cold at first he was an amazing and very intriguing man. Opening her mouth to speak she instead shook her head, the question sounded so silly in her mind. "I would really love to see that some day."
"I offered for you to come with me," he pointed out. "Before. Did you forget?"
"Haha, I'm sorry that must have slipped my mind. But yes, I can't wait until I get to see it with my own eyes. Thank you, for offering to show it to me."
He nodded shortly. "You are welcome. Toshiro-san may come as well, since you are his guardian, if he would like it." He stood up, straightening his sweater. "Would you like to do anything else now?"
"I'll ask him, thanks." Standing up she grabbed her jacket and purse before turning to smile at Byakuya. "I'm would love too but I don't feel like intruding too much on your time Bya-chan."
"I have nothing planned for today. If you have plans yourself, I understand that."
"No, none what so ever actually. I have some make up work since I missed almost a month of school but that's all and I think I'm going to go nuts if I have to do any more math soon." Pulling her jacket on Rangiku hooked her arm with his and smiled. "So, yeah that means I'm all yours for the rest of the day~"
He started to say she shouldn't put off her schoolwork, but decided against it for once, deeming that she wouldn't listen to him anyway. "So what is it you would like to do?" Being new to this whole non-scheduled thing, he wasn't sure what there was to be done.
"Well we could just go for a walk in the park to begin with and we'll see where we go from there. It all depends on how long you think you can put up with me~"
"I have a great deal of patience, Rangiku-dono." With her arm in his, he lead them along to the park near the schools. There weren't many people out at this time of day, so they generally had the place to themselves, except for someone walking their dog, and another couple.
"Well that is a good think to know Bya-chan. I would so hate to drive you out of your mind. Though I must admit it would be interesting to see." Brushing her hair back over her shoulder Rangiku smiled up at the sun almost gratefully, spring was always equally amazing but soon, soon it would be summer. "So tell me, what do you usually do besides, well besides your little schedule?"
"Just exactly what my schedule says I do." Oh yeah. He was a bundle of excitement, this one.
"Seriously? That's all you ever do?" Rangiku stopped walking and stared at him with an almost worried look. "You... nothing else?"
"I dream." As if this were an activity one could benefit from. He didn't see anything wrong with his structured life; he thought it was a good way to live.
"Well that's something at least." Glancing around she felt herself itching for something sweet and with a vague recollection of buying some lollipops a few days ago she began searching through her handbag only to give off a happy giggle as she found one.
"What is that?" He pointed to the piece of candy. Ah, the mysteries of a woman's purse...
"Cherry-liquorish lolli, sorry I have this thing for sweet/salt mixed flavors. Want one?" Pulling the wrapping of one of the lolli's she popped it into her mouth as she held the other one out to him.
"No thank you." He looked around quietly, then pointed down the pathway they were walking on. "A lightning bug..." The little insect flickered around.
"Lightening bug?" Rolling the sweet treat over her lips she licked the sticky substance off as she glanced down the path.
He nodded, letting go of her arm to half-run, half-walk-very-fast after the lightning bug to catch it for her.
Biting back a giggle she jogged off after him. This was as far as she could possibly come from what she'd been expecting her day to be like. She'd expected another dull day at home, in front of the tv, eating peppers and drinking sake - instead she found herself jogging down a path in the park with a man she'd never really met before yet felt so very at ease around.
Slightly oblivious, he reached out and clamped his hands around the little bug, then turned around, checked quickly--he hadn't expected her to follow him--then held out his hands holding the glowing little bug."I caught it. Look."
Her face lit up with almost childlike curiosity as she slowed her pace down and took a last few steps up to where he was standing, her eyes fixed on his hand. "How did you do that? I've never been able to catch one of those."
"I..." He paused with the air of one about to disclose a great secret, then said calmly, "...chased it." He moved his finger ever so slightly so she could peek into the little chamber he'd made with his fingers and palms to keep the bug.
Popping the lolli back in her mouth she placed one hand over his finger and the other on his wrist as she raised it up to her face and peeked inside. "Wow, it's really beautiful~"
He nodded, looking around for a few minutes, then turned back to her. "I will be right back. Please wait here." Without waiting for a response, he walked off the way they'd come.
"I... wha-?" Rangiku stared a bit stunned as he just left and all tough she felt a bit bewildered by his sudden disappearance it didn't exactly worry her. Instead she moved off the path and onto the grassy patch next to it where she began sat down and began humming on a low tune as she looked up at the sky above.
Byakuya returned a few moments later along the path, paused to look around for her, as she wasn't where'd he left her. When he found her, he went over and helf up the lightning bug, now in a little glass jar with a screen lid for air holes. "Present."
Reaching up she took the jar and gave him a large smile. Looking down at the glowing insect she was unable to resist the sudden impulse it gave her, and getting back on her feet she leaned over and placed a kiss on Byakuya's cheek. "Thank you, that's really sweet."
He blinked, rather surprised, then turned away to clear his throat a bit. "You are welcome. Would you like another? There is room for one more, i think."
"Well if you think you can catch me another one, then you're welcome to do so. I'll just stay here in the meanwhile, unless you like me chasing after you?" Nodding slightly Rangiku admitted to herself that he did look pretty damn cute when he got that surprised/shocked look on his face.
"I prefer to be the one to do the chasing," he said before getting up and looking around, then seeing another glowing insect and going after it.
Grabbing the lolli Rangiku just grinned after him as she raised a brow. "Well that's good to know~"
Grabbing another lightning bug out of the air, he came back, holding it out. "Second present."
"Haha, that was quick. Now how do you plan on getting that one in the jar as well without the other one escaping?" Holding up the jar she licked some on the lolli as she gave him a curious look.
"..." The little gears in his brain went a-working for a moment or so until he came upon a possible solution. According to his nerd-calculations, there was a seventy-five percent chance this would work, and if the bugs escaped, he would just catch them again. Shifting the bug in his hand to two fingers, holding it just enough to make sure it wouldn't fly off, he took the jar, and, using the forefinger and thumb of one hand, he unscrewed the lid just the smallest fraction, then stuffed the new bug in and closed it again. "Success," he delcared in his monotone.
"Cleaver~" Retrieving the jar she placed a kiss on his other cheek as well, all while grinning hugely. "You know, for seeming like such a stiff guy you're really both cute, kind and thoughtful."
"How am I 'stiff'?" he asked, handing the jar back to her and sitting down on the grass next to her.
"That's the way you come off to most people. You never smile, in fact you always seem to have a blank expression on your face. You arrange your day according to a schedule - okay so some structure is good - there's just no need to overdo it."
"...Although expressions are easy to show someone what one means, I prefer to let words communicate my meaning. An expression or action can be taken the wrong way, but words, expressed properly, won't." He raised an eyebrow at her. "Would you rather there be no schedule?"
"True~" Laying back down on the ground she ran a hand through her hair, making it spread out beside her as she sighed. But sometimes it's easier to rely on expressions and actions rather then words. "And no, not really. I think a moderate balance is the best, a schedule is good but there's no need to let it control your life completely - besides, spontaneity is fun."
"...I... suppose. If I had not deviated away from my schedule, as others recommended me to do, I would not have this time with Rangiku-dono." It was a statement, blunt as usual, and not a question.
"Yes, and please do tell me - Bya-chan~ Is spending this time with me so horrible compared to sitting at home studying?" Glancing over at him she smiled.
"Do not misunderstand me, I enjoy studying, and I enjoy my time spent at the university. However..." He tilted his head back, watching a few free lightning bugs buz over their heads, out of reach. "...this free time spent is also enjoyable."
"And I think you and Shiro would get along just fine. You sound like him when you talk like that. He's always nagging on me about homework and things - if I didn't know better I'd say he was the older of us."
"...well... you should not put off homework in this manner, Rangiku-dono..."
Huffing she folder her arms underneath her head and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Yes well I manage good grades so I don't see why I can't enjoy life a little while I have one to enjoy. Better do things now then regret not having done them once I grow old. And please can you stop calling me Rangiku-dono, just Rangiku. Please Byakuya?"
"You call me Bya-chan."
"Okay what do you want me to call you then?"
"It does not matter to me. I merely pointed out that you have your own way of calling my name and I have my own way of calling yours."
"I can't handle people being too polite too me, it's just a pet peeve I have. I've grown up with people being friendly and polite and smiling - but all they really did was lie and scheme and lie some more." Gin always did that too her, at least in the beginning. He always added honorifics to people and it drove her almost insane - the fake smile, the politeness, the lies.
"I would not lie to you nor scheme against you," he said firmly. "However, on my side of the coin, I was raised in a household where honorifics were bestowed on everyone. Ojii-sans and onii-sans and tousans."
"Then call me Rangiku-chan, please?" Sitting up she brushed some strands of grass from her hair before looking over at him with an almost pleading expression.
"Alright," he conceded, reading the expression. "Rangiku-chan. You may call me simply Byakuya if you wish."
"Then I will... Byakuya and y-" being interruped by her cell Rangiku uttered a frustrated noise as she pulled it from her pocket and answered. After a series of yes and no's she snapped it shut again and rolled her eyes. "Apparently the lawyers wishes to see me. Something about the house, apparently there might already be a buyer willing to look at it so I kind of have to go."
"Ah. Alright." He stood and brushed grass and dirt off his pants. Clearing his throat lightly, he asked, "If all goes well with this house business today, do you have anything planned tomorrow?"
"Well hopefully no, nothing more then school and some homework. But I'm sure Shiro will let me out of the house if I behave and do as he tells me." Rangiku laughed as she got up on her feet, the little glass jar tightly clutched in her hand as she looked yo at Byakuya. "Why, feel like breaking the schedule again?"
"On the outside of the cafe we were just in, I saw a flier for a spring carnival held this week end. Perhaps you would care to go with me."
"I would really love too. Want to meet somewhere specific or should I just call you when I get everything done?"
"You may call me if you wish. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew his wallet and took a business card out of it and handed it to her. "A card for the family business. My cellular number is listed with my name."
"Oh I will, rest assure of that. I've had a great time today, thank you. For everything." For the third time during a very short time she kissed his cheek as she placed the business card in the inside pocket of her jacket. "I'll see you tomorrow then,. Byakuya."
He nodded, inclining his head politely. "I look forward to it. Good day." Turning on his heel, he pocketed his hands and walked off along the park path; sticking out of of his back pocket was a little glass jar identical to the one Rangiku was holding. His objective was clear enough.