A Beneficial Arrangement

 

After the meal, Inari managed to detach Byakuya from Kisuke and Yoruichi for a walk in the garden.  She was fairly certain they would have followed had it not been the threat of death and dismemberment she’d issued.  She still couldn’t be absolutely sure that Yoruichi wasn’t skulking around in cat form or that Kisuke hadn’t figured out some way to render himself undetectable.  One of the hazards of her family both by choice and chance was that they tended to be dangerous on all kinds of interesting levels.  Of course, that only made them more fun as far as she was concerned.  However, it did make gaining a few moments of privacy a challenge as they tended to be nosey as well.

They wandered in silence for a while, enjoying the night and the gardens.  Byakuya noticed that they were quite different from those at his home, even his private one.  It seemed they wound around turn after turn on a semi circular path.  The outer edge was bamboo, followed by a rock wall, followed by a curved koi pond, then rows of various herbs planted in precise positions and finally a center circle of red rose bushes around a single bench.  Overall, it was very interesting and he had been intrigued by the layout.

“This was Rin’s idea,” Inari said, almost as though she’d read his mind.  “He was reading about European labyrinths and thought it would be interesting to make one with the plants and structures found here.”

“The roses aren’t a native element though,” Byakuya pointed out.

“No, they aren’t.  He just knew I loved them.  Really I think it was his way of getting out of remembering to buy me any for our anniversary,” she said, wandering over to touch one of the blooms.  “Gods know if he got lost in a book or piece of music he forgot his own name some days.”  She smiled a little sadly at the memory.

“Perhaps this should wait,” he said.  He knew that air of sadness that had seemed to settle on her shoulders.  Knew it well and intimately because it was with him every moment he thought about Hisana. 

She turned her head to look at him.  “No.  It’s fine. Time is something that even Kisuke hasn’t figured out how to stop yet.  The pain and grief only make it seem like yesterday.”

He sighed heavily.  “It does seem like only yesterday,” he said thoughtfully.  Normally he would have kept silent about such things but talking with someone who knew his sorrow first hand made the burden seem lighter somehow.

“There are times when I wonder if it’s just me not being willing to let him go yet,” she said, looking back down at the roses.  “He was one of the few people who knew the real me.”

Byakuya nodded.  He understood that too.  It was exceedingly rare to find someone who had the ability or the interest in seeing what was behind the various masks.  He reached forward and ran a fingertip along a rose petal thoughtfully.  “I believe that . . . finding someone who knows who you are at your heart is a gift beyond measure.  Finding someone who cares to look beyond whatever façade presented is remarkable and that makes their loss almost unbearable.”

Inari nodded.  “And if you do lose that person, you stop trying to look for anyone else.  Because no one else could ever live up to that person’s memory.”

“Yes.  That is the absolute truth.”

“I wonder if it’s easier to talk to you about this than anyone else because you’re practically a stranger or because you’ve experienced that loss,” she said.

“A bit of both, I’d think,” he said.  Gods knew he wanted to blurt out every thought and feeling he had about Hisana’s passing to her and had no idea why. 

I know you're afraid of what you feel

You still need time to heal

And I can help if you'll only let me try

He resisted the urge to sigh.  It seemed that he’d always hear music around her.  One song specifically and that made him wonder for a moment before he turned his attention to her fully.

Byakuya stood and studied her for a moment.  Her hair was down, tumbling in waves and curls over her shoulders and down her back with no pins or decorations adorning it, eyes unlined, wearing a beautifully patterned silk kimono. She carried herself strong and straight.  He could see what his family and advisors did in her at that point in time, even without the trappings of her rank, she appeared every inch the well born lady. The woman before him now seemed light years away from the tough and steady fighter he’d crossed swords with earlier in the day.  But he could still sense that core of steel in her regardless of how she presented herself.  It was intriguing to say the least. 

“Alright, enough of being maudlin.” She turned to look at him.  “So, what was the first question you wanted to ask me?”

“I would like to know why you were in my bedroom last night,” he finally said.

She chuckled a little and shrugged. “I thought you must have figured that out,” she said.  “Simple reason really, I can get . . . impressions from people if I have physical contact with them as I told you in your office.  Usually whatever emotion is closest to the surface at the time of contact.  It’s easier to get a read from someone when they’re sleeping because their defenses are down.  Though you are somewhat of an exception because your defenses seem to be up even while you’re asleep to a certain extent.”

“I see,” Byakuya said.  “That being the case, why would you feel the need to be in bed with me?  Considering that would not be necessary for a read.”

Inari looked away and vaguely wondered if it was possible to spontaneously combust on the spot or at very least die of embarrassment.   She sighed before lifting her head and looking him squarely in the eye.  “That was not my intention.”

He frowned.  “If it wasn’t your intention then why . . .”

“You seemed to be under the impression that I made a good sleep toy by grabbing and holding on to me,” Inari said, turning away from him because she was fairly certain the blush almost glowed in the dark.  “Before you say you would never do something like that, I know you wouldn’t while awake.  Asleep, however, is a completely different thing.”

He digested that statement and nodded.  He had read in various places that the sleeping mind was not at all like the awake one and that a person’s defenses were indeed down during that time.  It had been when he’d started trying to train to guard even that portion of himself.

“Now, I have a question for you,” Inari said.

Byakuya nodded.  “By all means ask.  I believe you have the right to nineteen per your unusual method of counting questions one can ask.”

She smirked a little at that.  “True enough.  Why are you allowing your family to push you into this?”

“It is what they expect of me,” he said.  The truth simply was, no matter how much he resented it.

She nodded, eyes narrowed and watching him shrewdly.  “That is all well and good, Bya.  But what do you expect of you?”

He frowned at her.  “I don’t believe I understand the question.”

“Alright, a simpler question then.  What do you expect of this year and a day contract?” she asked.  She was genuinely curious to see if what was rolling around in his head about what a proper wife should be, even if only in a temporary status, would come out of his mouth.

“With anyone else I would expect the usual stipulations be in place.  However, I do not see you leaving here to come live at the manor, nor is it reasonable to expect certain things from you that with another would be a given.”  This was all true, he thought.  Were she any other woman it would be expected for her to leave her home to live with him.  There was also the indelicate matter of a physical relationship and that gave him pause to wonder.  He had heard various rumors but wasn’t certain if he should voice them or not.  Though she seemed open to discussing whatever he asked.

“Meaning if I were just another noble woman, I’d be expected to give up my life and follow you around like a puppy,” Inari said, half smiling.  “I think you are aware of the fact that isn’t going to happen no matter how much your family pushes.”

The corners of his lips twitched a little.  “I am aware. I do not believe for an instant that they really grasp the person you are.  I believe they see only your title and connection to our Sovereign.”

“I believe you’re right,” she said.  “That doesn’t answer what you expect, Bya.”

“I’m . . . not entirely certain.”

She sighed.  “Neither am I to tell you the truth.  I never intended to contemplate marriage again, even in the temporary sense,” she said honestly.

“Nor had I,” he said.

“I suppose we’ll muddle through together then,” she said.  “You look like you have another question on your mind.”

“Yes.  I’m not entirely certain I should ask though considering it is conjecture and rumor for the most part,” he said, turning slightly pink.

She put her hands on her hips and grinned at him.  “Oh, now you have to tell me since you just turned the color of one of Senbonzakura’s blades.”

He flushed a bit darker pink and wondered vaguely if her forwardness would kill him some day.  Though it was a refreshing change from everyone either pushing for him to agree to whatever they had in mind or simply agreeing with him to gain favor.  He looked at her directly before saying, “The Captains of the 13^th and 8^th.”

“I wondered when you’d get around to that question,” she said.  “I’m presuming you’re referring to the rumors that they’re both my lovers as well as one another’s.”

Byakuya just nodded.  He wasn’t entirely certain he wanted to know the answer.

“They’re more like . . . friends with benefits, if you will.  I love them both dearly but I have no real romantic attachment to either of them.  It’s more of a physical release than anything and they’re amusing to watch together when away from prying eyes.”

“I see.”

“No. I don’t really think you do since I’m fairly certain you’ve not been with anyone since your wife died,” Inari pointed out.

“I . . . that is a very personal question,” he said.  Holy gods, she really was going to kill him with her forwardness.

“I wasn’t aware it was a question, I thought I’d made a statement.  But that aside, I’ll not be with either of them once the year and a day contract is in place.  Before you ask, it’s because I’ll not give your family another thing to badger you about and I’ve always been faithful to anyone I’m committed to.”

“Even if it’s purely a ruse?” he questioned.

“Even if it’s purely a ruse,” she said firmly.  “It would also give the gossips entirely too much to chat about.  Then you’d never get your family to stop aggravating you.”

“That is a certainty,” Byakuya said.  “May I consider this for a few days?”

“Isn’t that usually the woman’s question?”

“As a general rule, yes.  However, you do outrank me by quite a bit,” he said, one corner of his mouth tilting up slightly.

Inari shrugged.  “Will you be going home or staying here for the night?”

“I believe . . . I need to be in my own home to contemplate this further.”

“I understand.  Keep the kimono, I’ll make certain your other things get back to you tomorrow after they’ve been repaired and laundered.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do after getting you dirty and bloody,” she said with a grin.  “Do you need an escort home?”

He smiled slightly at that.  “I believe I am old enough to go home in the dark alone.”

***Mad Ramblings***

The song used in this chapter is Through the Fire.  Again.  Are we seeing a pattern here?