Undisclosed Desires, chapter 3 (Ori/Bya)
A/N: Thanks for your kind reviews! I hope you enjoy this chapter :)
Undisclosed Desires, 3/5
by hardlyfatal
Chapter 3
The rest of the week passed uneventfully. Byakuya was careful to avoid anything that might cause him to spend any time with Orihime. He kept his shoji screens tightly closed, took his breakfast in his room, and remained at work until only five minutes before dinner, so as to avoid any pre-meal socializing. Arriving at the manor, he'd wash his hands, join Rukia and Orihime for dinner, then lock himself in his office for the remainder of the night.
Fusuma and shoji being what they were, however, meant that Byakuya was very able to hear their conversations once he'd fled. Orihime was being courted not only by every eligible man in the Gotei, it seemed, but by most of the various divisions. She would be taking lessons from various of the captains and lieutenants in their specialties; healing kido from Unohana, defensive kido from Hinamori, offensive kido from Ise Nanao, shunpou from Ukitake.
It was with some alarm that he noted her discussing her upcoming tutelage in swordsmanship at the Eleventh Division; he hoped it would be that bald minion of Kenpachi's rather than the man himself who'd be doing the teaching, or there'd be little left of the girl by lesson's end.
"I'm not sure what to do about all the men, Rukia-chan," Orihime was telling his sister hesitantly. "It wasn't like this the last time I spent more than a few days in Soul Society."
"Last time, you were still underage, and in love with that idiot." Judging by the affectionate venom in Rukia's tone, Byakuya assumed she meant Ichigo. "Now you're in your twenties, and that mess is over with. You're fair game."
"That sounds a little scary. I don't think I want to be... prey." Orihime sounded rife with misgivings, as well she should be. The men of the Gotei hadn't had any new skirts to chase in a long time. Her very novelty, combined with her alluring appearance, would make for an irresistible attraction.
"Let's be practical," said the pragmatic Rukia. "Do any of them stand out more than anyone else?"
"Everyone's got something wonderful and special about them!" Frankly, her optimism and generosity baffled Byakuya, who felt a deep and abiding skepticism at her words. "But... if I had to single some out, I guess there are a few who are more special than the others."
"So tell me about them," encouraged Rukia. She was sounding relaxed and content; Byakuya wondered if she'd gotten into his sake stash.
"Ikkaku-san is so funny and exciting!" Orihime began. "Spending time with him is always an adventure. And Shuuhei-san is very smart and talented! Talking to him is interesting, what he says make me see things differently."
"And Ukitake-taichou?" Rukia prodded. Ukitake had expressed interest in Orihime? Byakuya felt his eyes popping in shock. If he himself were too old for Orihime, his birthday being at least a century before hers, then Ukitake's being almost two thousand years old certainly had to disqualify him... didn't it?
"He's so handsome and sweet and gentle," Orihime replied with a sigh.
"He's the perfect man," Rukia stated, before adding loyally, "after Nii-sama, that is." Byakuya almost smiled, and made a mental note to be especially approving of Rukia at some near point in the future.
"Ah!" exclaimed Orihime, sounding alarmed. "Yes, your brother!"
There was a brief pause. When Rukia spoke again, her voice sounded... sly, somehow. "Saaaaaaay, Orihime-chan, what do you think of Nii-sama?" Byakuya erased his previous mental note and replaced it with one to scold her viciously. He stood and approached their shared wall for a better listen anyway.
"Ah!" Orihime repeated, her voice a little... panicky? "He's... he's..." Out with it, he thought crossly. "He's very nice!" she said at last.
Nice? He was nice?
"Nice?" said Rukia. "Nii-sama? Are you sure?" She didn't have to sound so doubtful about it. He could be nice. He was almost positive of it.
"Nice," Orihime said firmly. Then she faltered, "But he doesn't seem to like me much. I'm afraid I've offended him."
"Orihime-chan," Rukia said, "Nii-sama doesn't like anyone. Don't take it personally. I'm certain he's not mad at you. If anything, he's just a bit... distracted. He's not used to having guests here. That's all it is." Blessings upon his sister for providing an excellent reason for this week's discomfiture. He erased the mental note to scold her.
"You'll tell me if he is mad at me?"
"Oh, trust me, you won't need me to tell you," said Rukia, amused. "When Nii-sama's angry, you'll know it. We'll all know it. He's not exactly shy about expressing that emotion."
"Just all the others?" giggled Orihime.
They were mocking his... appropriate and seemly restraint and commitment to personal decorum? This was insupportable. He felt like rampaging into the other room, like waving Senbonzakura around and possibly even glaring-- okay, perhaps they had a point.
"Maybe you should date them all," Rukia suggested. "No way to learn which is the man for you without getting to know them a bit."
What a terrible idea, Byakuya thought.
"That's a great idea!" exclaimed Orihime. She even clapped her hands. Byakuya rolled his eyes.
"I'm full of them," Rukia agreed smugly. Full of something, he thought sourly. Orihime dating three different men at once was a recipe for disaster; there would be bodies in the streets, once the smoke cleared.
"I'm going to bed right away, so tomorrow comes faster!" The fusuma door opened and closed; her footsteps pattered off toward the guest wing.
There was some rustling, like the fabric of a shihakusho shifting as its wearer stood. After a moment, Rukia's voice came directly from the opposite side of the shoji wall from where Byakuya had stood and listened intently. "She might need some protection from all those eager suitors, Nii-sama," she murmured.
Byakuya's eyes flew open; appalled, he shot back from the wall until he was on the far side of the room. The cheek! The affrontery! The... cheek!
Then Rukia's footsteps were fading into the distance, in the direction of her own room, and Byakuya was left alone with only his scrambled thoughts for company.
It was all these women, he thought darkly. From Yoruichi in his long-ago youth, to Hisana, to Rukia, and now Orihime, it was clear he'd never have a moment's peace with them in his life. At least Yoruichi was in exile, and Hisana dearly departed, of course. Orihime would be gone soon enough, and then he'd begin the process of marrying Rukia off. Surely there was some fool man out there who'd want a tiny meddling termagant for a wife.
Surely?
Byakuya went to bed.