I Want All of You 4 - Sakura Storm

"Chire, Senbonsakura."
She stopped breathing. Still sitting on the ground, Rukia came back to the present. Briefly, she saw Byakuya standing before her, then her vision filled with pink. The millions of blades, each in the form of a single sakura petal, encircled her. She was poised in the centre of the storm and understood now that she could no longer escape. And she could not win or even leave without being reduced to pieces.
Oddly, she had no desire to escape the protective cocoon. The energy that turned around her was that of Byakuya. It was intoxicating. Suddenly, her body betrayed her and she reached out. Her breathing became laboured and her eyes widened with something like desire. Her subconscious had, in some way, reacted instinctively to his stimulus, her whole being, drugged, returned once more to the context of her dream. Because the energy that surrounded her in that moment was the one she associated with the dream.
Suddenly, he did something that Rukia had not anticipated. Some petals left the rapid whirlwind and approached her face.
"So this is it," she thought, with the last ounce of lucidity that remained in a mind consumed by desire.
The petals would fall on her and rend through her whole body. Preparing for the pain with all that was left of her awareness, she felt completely numb when they brushed against her cheek. They were soft! Rukia breathed out and touched her face, trapping the flowers in her hand. The blades had become soft and smooth like satin. A dozen more petals followed their trajectory. Rukia felt a wave of desire swallow her and she was lost even as a small moan escaped her lips.
Byakuya felt his stomach turn as he heard a small cry, and he quickly reined in Senbonsakura. He hoped with all his heart that he had not injured her. The vision he had in that moment appalled him; he could imagine Rukia curled up into a ball, protecting herself as best she could from the murderous flowers.
But no! She was lying, stretched out on the grass, her arms open. She was taking long breaths, though she didn't seem to be out of breath. In fact, she seemed far more relaxed than him. Her whole body gave the impression of peace, sleepiness and fragility, as if all her bones were suddenly gone.
Rukia stared at the sky in a kind of trance that left her at peace as she gradually returned to her senses. But, before she was fully awake, Byakuya had the chance to see her eyes. Suddenly, he froze. He was unaware of his other senses. His body stiffened and he realised that he could not come any closer to the beauty that lay before him. He couldn't even hear the rush of the waterfall behind him. He had the impression that the world had suddenly ceased to orbit the sun. He had difficulty swallowing when he saw those violet eyes, opened wide.
Passion. Intensity. Love. Desire. Indulgence. It was so strong that Byakuya thought he might have to take a cold shower before leaving for the division. Despite all his self-mastery, his dispassionate demeanour and control over his emotions, he suddenly felt weak at the knees, as if an invisible force pressed down on his shoulders. His blood pumped through his body at unimagineable speed. And, as graciously as possible, and without too much shame, he went down on one knee at her side.
So sweetly, she turned her head towards him, and in that moment, he knew he was defeated, defenceless, her prisoner. He would never be able to resist this. Rukia's lips began to move, but no sound left her mouth. Yet they formed a single word:
"Byakuya."
Once more he felt his heart go still in his chest and the air leave his lungs. The vision in front of him was so enchanting. All that he dreamed of doing in that moment was leaning in and kissing her. She was so beautiful. But, before Byakuya could give in to this urge, the inevitable occurred: Rukia came to, giving Byakuya a slight start. "Oh, by Kami, I'm sorry, Nii-sama. I didn't pay attention!"
He saw her blush furiously. This return to the normal Rukia reassured him somewhat and he was able to gather his thoughts. She smiled timidly at him.
"You are not hurt, Rukia?"
She touched her limbs as if to reassure herself that they all were, indeed, intact.
"No, I don't think so."
"Why didn't you free yourself from Senbonsakura?"
The question took her by surprise. Yet the answer was clear. Why had she not used her shikai against the petals? Why?  Quite simply because she hadn't wanted to. When Senbonsakura had surrounded her, Rukia had had the impression that it was Byakuya himself who had taken her in his arms. "You could easily have counter-attacked, Rukia," continued Byakuya: "Why did you abandon the combat?"
"I didn't abandon it," said Rukia, flushing: "It's just that….."
What could she say? What could she say to him? Byakuya raised an eyebrow, encouraging her to continue the sentence. But Rukia didn't know how to explain what had happened next. She turned so that she was facing the waterfall. She could feel anew the entity that was sometimes present during her training sessions and it gave her a courage that she had never had before:
"I did not want to liberate myself, Nii-sama," she said, turning to face him: "It was so magnificent, so warm and comforting. Your reiatsu encircled me completely and the only thing that I could do, instinctively, was to embrace it. I felt safe there. Nothing existed apart from that. I felt so well in that moment that the thought of fighting you was completely beyond me. And then some of your petals touched me."
She tried not to see the sudden concern on Byakuya's face. "It was the most beautiful and sweet caress that I have ever had. So sweet, so warm, so tender. Apart from the touch of the petals, there was only you and I. I experienced feelings and emotions that have never affected me before."
When Rukia had finished speaking, Byakuya remained frozen, stunned. His heart was thundering in his chest. He was….. moved by what Rukia was telling him. No-one had ever spoken to him that way, with such love. He tried, with all his power, to maintain his icy calm, but the heat that filled him now held sway over him. An expression of tenderness, long-forgotten, touched his features and, with a slow smile, he said:
"Arigato, Rukia."
She returned the smile. For an instant, she was surprised that he had made her smile in turn. Suddenly, though, she had the slightest sensation of burning and something hot ran down the length of her cheek. Rukia swore internally. She really had been cut. In fact, she had a thin wound across her cheek. When she went to cover it with her hand, Byakuya stopped her. She looked at him. There was a strange lure in the depths of those grey eyes that rendered her completely helpless. "Let me….."
Completely hypnotised by his grey gaze, Rukia let him.Byakuya placed his hand on her cheek and summoned his reiatsu, and Rukia struggled violently not to close her eyes against the sweet warmth of his hand. The power in his grey eyes unsettled her thoughts.
"Sumane, Rukia, my control of the petals is not yet perfect; it seems they are still dangerous. I should not have….."
"It's not serious, Nii-sama," said Rukia quickly: "I would not have missed this spectacle for anything in the world."
She suddenly noticed that Byakuya's eyes were no longer cold. No, on the contrary, they burned with an intensity so strong. The little cut on her cheek had closed up again in an instant, leaving no trace. And when Byakuya took back his hand, Rukia raised her own and put it over Byakuya's, holding his hand.  Rukia hadn't known she possessed such courage. But she didn't want him to leave. She didn't want this to end. His hand was so soft and warm. Suddenly, a bird flew across the water and, all at once, time resumed. Rukia gathered her thoughts. She could not act like this; not with her brother. She promptly took back her hands and her cheeks reddened: "Gomenasai, Nii-sama. I forget my place."
Byakuya seemed troubled by her words and there was sadness in his voice when he spoke:
"Come, Rukia; it's time to leave."
"Hai," she said, softly.
They started back towards the manor. Passing through avenues of trees in blossom, Byakuya couldn't help but gaze at Rukia; he attempted to read her reiatsu, but her control had returned and he could sense little from it: a profound sadness, but also desire. He was confused; all he had wanted,in that moment, was to take her in his arms and tell her that, no matter what she said or did, her place in his heart would remain forever. And for a time, the silence between them seemed, to him, too heavy.
"Why do you train that way?" he asked her. "Do you find that the training periods in your division are not sufficient?"
Rukia hesitated for a moment. In fact, that wasn't untrue. There weren't a great many in her division who were of her calibre or who were not put off by her name. She had often asked Renji, but he was usually busy and Rukia was sharp enough to know that he held back when he was with her. She had asked Ichigo once, but had soon regretted it. In contrast to Renji, Ichigo didn't know how to hold back, and he was too strong for her.
"You see, Nii-sama, I want to become stronger," she said.
Byakuya was surprised by her response. As far as he could see, already today, she had shown him how much stronger she had become. She must be spending too much time with Renji. All at once though, a doubt wormed its way into his mind.
"Why this sudden desire?" he asked her.
"I would like the honour of becoming the fukutaichou of Thirteenth Division or, at least, an officer."
Byakuya tried to control his sudden fear. Ukitake, Rukia's captain, Had often said that Rukia, with her talents, was worthy of being an officer. And he had also already mentioned the post of vice-captain. But Byakuya had, at those times, always had a quick word with him. It was because of Byakuya that Rukia was not an officer, much less a fukutaichou. He had always been afraid that she would be sent on a mission that was too hard or too dangerous for her, and that she would be injured or worse, that she would not come back. If the demand came from Rukia herself though, how could he oppose it? Now that he had seen the fire that burned in her eyes as she answered him, he was not so sure he could….. No, he would protect her from the world: the world and from herself, if he must.
"I wish you luck," he said, his tone neutral.
If only she knew!  He longed to deserve the smile of joy that she offered him for his good wishes. Reaching the manor though, he turned to her: "You must go, Rukia. You are going to be late to your division."
"Thank you for the training, Nii-sama. I've found it very useful."
Byakuya nodded and she bowed, then departed in haste. Before leaving himself though, he gazed at his hand: this hand, which had touched her cheek and which she had taken and held. He was almost jealous. What should he think of all this?