Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, ect., are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Warnings: Rated Mature for language, gore and adult situations. Readers under the age of 18 are discouraged from reading.
Pineapple Hearts & Sparrow Kisses
Chapter Three
“A Party To Remember”
~ Suzume ~
 |
| Kuchiki Clan Symbol |
The simple act of my name spilling from his lips in such a sensual manner sent a wave of heat pooling in by belly. Suddenly the cool October air was absolutely stifling.
From the next carriage over I could hear Shühei’s loud cackling and Rangiku’s tinkling laugh as we pulled up to the front gates of the Kuchiki manor. “Yeah, try drinking with her and find out!” He yelled, louder than necessary while helping to unload Rangiku without tearing her delicate robes.
“Shü!” I hissed, my face turning the color of the yuri flower petals I had bathed in not an hour previous. If I were within reach of slapping him, I would have but all I could do was sit and wait for my escort to release me from the confines of our carriage.
“To his credit, Shühei at least had the decency to look ashamed as he muttered an apology through his laughter. “Don’t worry about him,” Renji old me, holding out his hand to help me from the lift. “He’s just jealous that he’s been bested by a woman as beautiful as you.”
“Thank you,” I replied sincerely, taking his hand but instead of holding me steady as I maneuvered myself to the ground, his other hand came up to grip my waist as he lifted me effortlessly in one strong maneuver.
He chuckled at my surprised gasp before setting me on my feet. “It was easier that way,” he told me, his smirk growing wider as his eyes cut to the left, slightly embarrassed. A tick I noticed this morning when I teased him about this less than stellar adventures in Basic Kidö.
“Awe, Renji-kun,” Shühei taunted. “I didn’t know you could be so romantic.”
“Shut up, idiot, you’re just mad ‘cause you didn’t think of it first.”
Rolling my eyes, I ignored the display of testosterone poisoning these two seemed to display whenever their company met and followed Rangiku through the entrance, leaving our brave male escorts to their womanly bickering.
~
“Are they always like this?” I asked, smiling in amusement as I thought about the two men still arguing at our backs. They had been long forgotten as we waded our way through the dense crowd.
We had already settled into an easy conversation over a cup of sake while making our rounds amongst Rangiku’s friends. I was nervous, of course at meeting them, but as Motsumoto had ensured, they were all descent people and none passed judgment at my differences that she swore she didn’t see in the first place.
“Pretty much,” she giggled, gulping down another dish, her cheeks tinting with the potency of the alcohol. “They’ve been like that since I can remember, though, it does seem like they’ve been taking it up a notch now that you’re in the picture.”
The sake Rangiku had pressed upon me nearly came back up. I spluttered and coughed, “What?”
She giggled again, the strong rice wine was obviously starting to taint her mind. “Tell me you didn’t notice?”
“Notice what?”
She huffed in annoyance. “You really don’t notice.” When I said nothing, she huffed again. “Renji has been practically preening himself around like a peacock to get your attention.”
The deepening color of my cheeks was my only response.
As the party progressed Renji’s attention was diverted by several of his squad members asking him questions. As time went on the hope that I had been secretly keeping close to my heart, that Renji hadn’t just asked me here out of propriety was slowly fading.
I tried to ignore it.
Rangiku was even more of a delight drunk than she was sober and I learned quickly that nothing was sacred to her while drinking.
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| Ikkaku Madarame & Yumichika Ayasegawa |
I met many of the other squad lieutenants and higher seated officers. By far the most interesting being Ikkaku Madarame, the acting captain for Squad Five. He was loud, crass and held no reservations when voicing his thoughts or opinions. The other was undoubtedly Yumichika Ayasegawa, Third seat of the Eleventh. He was the total opposite of his friend and former squad member. The man nearly bowled me over at first sight, gushing over my beauty.
Then there was Lt. Seinosuke Yamada of the Sixth that gave the desired effect I’d been waiting for all night.
It was mere minutes between the dark haired, handsome lieutenant approached me and the time I felt a large, muscled arm drape over my shoulder. The scent was unmistakable to my overly sensitive nose. Persimmons and tanned leather.
Renji.
I smiled foolishly.
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| Seinosuke Yamada |
Having never considered myself the type of woman who would normally encourage such barbaric behavior concerning me, I wanted to throttle him for his macho man rendition. Yet, I still let it slide.
While Seinosuke was handsome and polite, there was still something about the man that scent a trail of shivers down my spine. He made my skin crawl. Something was seriously off about him and I always trusted my instincts. He made me feel very uncomfortable in his presence.
“Go find your master and leave Miss Komamura to me.” Renji sneered, his arm tightening around my waist as he spoke.
Though it wasn’t the first time a man had touched me, it was by far the most pleasant. I relished the head that seeped through the heavy garment I wore.
The lieutenant seemed to pale before my very eyes. He shock his head emphatically and scurried away muttering a “Yes sir.”
“You alright?” Renji asked me, letting his arms slip slowly from my waist. It was disappointing yet understandable. “I know he can be a little intense if you’re not used to him.”
“I’m fine.” I replied smiling, happy he was concerned enough to come find me.
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| Ichigo Kurosaki & Rukia Kuchiki |
“Sorry ‘bout earlier, a Captain’s duties never end.” he said taking my hand in his as he lead me to another group of Captains and Lieutenants, some I recognized and some I didn’t. I also met briefly with both Ichigo and Rukia and found them to be quiet the pair. Loud, argumentative and absolutely perfect for each other.
Since Rukia was a dear friend of Renji’s, I extended my hospitality and offered her and her friends an open ended invite to my house for tea. She graciously excepted. Truthfully, I couldn’t wait to get to know the woman on her own time and away from the prying eyes of others. She was fascinating to me in the way that Rangiku was… but unlike Rangiku, Rukia and I have shared the gilded cage of nobility.
~
As the sky darkened and the announcement were being made I felt the hot breath of my escort flutter behind the point of my ear as he whispered. “Wanna take a walk?”
Trembling from his close proximity, I nodded and took his proffered elbow and allowed him to lead me away from the great mass of the party and into an uninhabited area of the Kuchiki grounds.
We walked in silence for the most part, coming to stop just at the highest point of a bridge overlooking a decorative coy pond. The last light of day was peeking over the snow capped peeks in the distance.
I sighed, leaning against the railing as I looked to the heavens, lost to my own thoughts. Most of them directed at the man standing just to my right.
The sky was swirled in dusky hues of pinks and purples, the Hunter’s moon already visible overhead and the Northern star seemed to be winking at me in the distance. From my peripheral, I saw him come to rest on his elbows against the banister. “Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked suddenly.
I startled a little at the abrupt break in the silence but smiled nonetheless. “Yes, thank you for inviting me.” I replied, turning my attention from the loud roars of laughter and shouting from where the party was still in full swing and back to his handsome face. “It was nice thing for you to do.”
“Nice?” He asked as his eyebrows shot up into his thick black bandanna, a confused look adorning his features as he studied me carefully. “Wait a minute… you think-” he stepped forward, grasping both of my hands in his. “You think I asked you here just to be polite, don’t you?”
“Well, I…” I trialed off, not really sure how this would come across, that was if I could even form a sentence with him touching me to begin with.
“Look,” he said, lifting my chin to gaze into his nut-brown eyes. “I’ll admit that I might have never have had the never to speak to you if Shühei hadn’t told me what an incredible person you are, but I didn’t invite you here out of pity. I asked you here because I thought you were amazing and I wanted to get to know you. I’m glad I took the chance in asking you.”
“Yeah?” I asked, my voice tittering nervously as he closed the distance between us.
“Yeah,” he replied softly.
Locking eyes with me, he leaned in and my eyes fell shut as his warm cheek ghosted mine. His breath fanned across in an enticingly sweet mixture of fruit and alcohol as he whispered, “Can I kiss you?”
With his mouth a hairsbreadth away from my own I found it hard to concentrate on any one thought that wasn’t surrounding his pillow soft lips.
I nodded and whispered a subtle but audible yes.
“Captain Abarai!” A young man yelled, pushing his way up the bridge. The man was obviously a Third division member and Renji was clearly this youth’s idol. If the facial tattoo’s were anything to go by. If it wasn’t due to the frustrations of my almost first kiss I might have found it funny that the officers appearance was so close in nature to Renji’s but as it was, I found very little about this situation, funny.Renji groaned, pulled away slowly as he mouthed an inaudible ‘sorry’ at me before turning to his subordinate and barked out. “Rikichi, what’s so important that you had to interrupt me right now?”
The young man looked startled as it dawned on him that his captain wasn’t solely on his own company. “A thousand pardons, Sir, but Captain Zaraki and Mr. Kurosaki are at it again and I fear they may kill each other this time. Lady Kuchiki begged me to send for you.” He said all in one whoosh of air and I marveled at the sight, wondering how he had not passed out mid rant.
“Damn,” Renji sighed, rubbing his hands over his face in clear irritation before directing his attention back to his underling. “Why didn’t I feel their Reiatsu if they’re killing each other?”
“Well Sir,” the kid looked a little green as he stammered out his reply, evidently he already knew his Captain wasn’t going to be happy with his reply. “They’re not sparing with weapons.”
As Renji grunted and cursed, I realized that I was the only person here not privy to the circumstances surrounding the two captains in question but it was made abundantly clear when Renji started muttering about not baby-sitting ‘his friends’ drunk husband.
“Alright, I’ll take care of it. Tell Rukia I’ll be right there.”
“Yes, Sir, right away.” He nodded with a smile and using shunpo disappeared in the direction he came from.
With his shoulder hunched and his face turned to me, he gave me a hesitant smile before cupping my cheek sweetly and laying upon it a chaste kiss. “I’m sorry about this. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” After another kiss to the other cheek, he added. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“Alright,” I replied easily, watching with a swelled heart as he too disappeared in the direction of the party.
~
The shimmering glow of the night soon followed, illuminating all of Serieitei in a milky light. The gardens where I had been left were stunning during the setting sun but like most nocturnal predators, I lived for the night and found the inky sky comforting.
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| Moon Flower |
It was almost a wistful feeling that came over me as I took in the delicate white blossoms unfurling to taste the sweet nectar of the night air and I couldn’t help but think of my mother. The Ipomoea were always her favorite in the gardens of home. Thinking back now, I believe she may have connected them somehow with her love for father.
Letting the milky colored petals caress my fingertips, softer than the finest silk, I started to hum. It was an old song, a song sung by my father’s people and was taught to me after my mother’s passing as a way to comfort myself when far from home.
“What are you doing here?” A voice commanded, strong and frightening.
I whirled around, my fist clutching at the V of my Kimono as my eyes darted trying to locate the origin of the voice. The figure was easy enough for me to spot, obviously a male. He was standing tall and ominous just under the Sakura tree not thirty yard away. At first it was difficult for me to make a confirmation of identity with the moon’s cast blinding my eyes to anything covered in shadow, but as he stepped forward his identity was unmistakable.
A gasp caught in my throat as hard, steel gray eyes locked on mine, hardening further with each step he took. “Lord Kuchiki,” I stuttered, throwing myself into a low hesitation. “Forgive my ignorance, I did not know it was you.”
 | |
| Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of the Sixth |
“I will ask again, why are you here? This garden is private and off limits to guests.” he sneered, his tone cold as ice as he spoke to me like I was no more than a pebble in his shoe.
“Pardon, your Lordship, I was unaware.” I replied keeping my tone even and polite while trying to keep my steadily growing temper under control.
It took many years of conditioning and constant meeting with Kidö chain to gain this kind of control. I hated men like him, but my upbringing demanded I show him respect despite my feelings.
“Rise,” he commanded. Biting my tongue to the point of pain, I obeyed. He took a minute to circle me, much like a cat would do to a wounded mouse. “I do not recall ever having seen your face before. Who are you?”
With another bow of my head, I answered. “Suzume Komamura Kannogi, My Lord.”
He stopped abruptly as I knew he would after hearing my name. “Kannogi, you say?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
He hummed to himself and circled me once more, this time his eyes were calculating and pressing. “Why is it you are with escort, such things are improper for a Lady of your station.”
“My escort was called away for an emergency, he should return momentarily.” I responded coolly, still not raising my head fully but never taking my eyes off him either. Trusting a man like him was something I was very unwilling to do, I had learned my lesson years ago that men to rich and powerful for their own good, will take what they wish without asking and I had no desire to have flesh cleaved from bone for denying those wishes.
“Tell me the name of this escort and I will see you safely back to him.” he might have been honestly to do a good deed, but even his suggestion sounded like a demand to my ears.
I didn’t like it.
“Captain Abarai.”
“Captain Abarai is not worthy of escorting you. He is considerably under your station and it would be frowned upon by your family. I will escort you home.” he finished, waving his hand to shoo away any concerns I might have had with his demands.
It had been building since the man, gorgeous or not, decided to speak and I had expended to much of myself trying to tramp down the biting fire growing in my chest. So when he spoke again, in command, my long controlled temper… snapped.
“Speak,” he commanded me as if I were his fucking dog.
My Reiatsu flared sending a brilliant shimmer of gold into the night air. I knew my body was trembling and my hidden nature was unveiling itself. “How dare you!” I snarled, blood and salvia dripping down my chin as my canines lengthened and the burn of my venom coated my teeth and tongue.
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| Suzume's Wolf Form |
One bite, I told myself. Just one bite and the great Captain Kuchiki would be no more.
“You may consider Captain Abarai below the dishonorable house of my birth, but he is the escort of my choosing and will be respected as such. I demand it so.” I heaved feeling the powerful burn of my joints twisting and relocating and the ripping of my flesh as it extended. It was the most glorious feeling, to let that power go… to see it realized once again after so many years of it lying dormant in my human shell.
As my senses clouded and my eyes tinged red, I could faintly make out Hisagi yelling for someone throught the thick hum of power surrounding me. Perhaps he was yelling at me. Then just as suddenly as it started, a swath of pink silk covered my eyes and the warm scent of vanilla and spiced apples filled my nose.
It was warm and comforting but it was not the scent I craved the most.
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| Captain Kyoraku of the Eighth |
“Suzume!” Kyoraku wailed using the false tone I recognized as a ploy to direct prying eyes away from the real issue at hand. The issue was a serious one. It was the closest I had ever come to killing a human.
He huddled my face to my chest and quietly whispered in my ear. “I’ve got you now, sweetheart. You just take a deep breath for you old Shun-kun.”
With a great distortion in the air around us and subtly jostle of my back, I knew he had used shunpo to remove me from further temptation. As the red fog around my eyes cleared, reality set in and with a strangled sob, I realized what I had done.
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