His palms were sweaty, and he swallowed thickly as he raised one hand to the closed door, poised to knock. It was unlike him to be so panicky and ruffled, but his stomach tingled with anticipation and rolled with nervousness. Taking several deep breaths to compose himself, Byakuya steeled himself and knocked lightly, three short raps with his fist.

The sound echoed, and he winced. It was all too quiet in the thirteenth division office, despite the time of the day. He idly wondered where Kaien was at. Probably conducting the new recruits in their exercises for the day.

Byakuya himself should have been training, but more important manners had pressed at him.

There was a slight cough before a gentle voice bid him enter.

Rearranging an already perfectly arranged uniform, Byakuya took another deep breath and slid the door open, stepping inside before sliding it quietly shut.

His senpai looked up from his paperwork, brush in one hand, before he smiled at Byakuya, eyes gentle as always. “Konbanwa, Byakuya. I wasn’t expecting to see you tonight. Come. Have a seat.” He laid his brush down as he gestured towards the pillow in front of him.

The Kuchiki heir nodded wordlessly, unable to take his eyes off of Jyuushiro’s gentle face as he lowered himself into the seat. His palms were sweating again, and he surreptitiously rubbed them on his hakama.

“What brings you here this evening?” Jyuushiro asked before his eyes suddenly widened in realization. “Oh, gomen. I nearly forgot; would you like some tea?”

Silvery eyes flickered to the teapot, a constant on the captain’s desk before he shook his head. “No, thank you, senpai. I… I wanted to talk to you.”

“Oh?” A white eyebrow rose. “About what?” He paused, reconsidering. “Is that kidoh giving you trouble again? The… Soukatsui?”

Again, Byakuya shook his head. “No. Thanks to your help, I’ve finally perfected it.” He shifted in his seat again as he tried to steel himself for what he had come to say. He raised his gaze, locking on his senpai’s perplexed expression, and without his consent, he flushed to the tips of his ears.

Across the desk, Ukitake finally began to understand. Something strange glinted in his eyes, and he silently debated with himself, knowing that his moment had finally come. Two paths were before him, and he knew which one he should choose. Byakuya was so young; he had so much life yet to live, so much time to find what he really wanted. And yet, he was here; the younger man had made his choice.

Now, it was up to Jyuushiro to make his own, and as the minute stretched on, he faltered. He knew what he should do, but the captain couldn’t bring himself to do it. He had always been the nice guy, the one who gave much and asked for nothing in return. He was content with his life, but dangling in front of him was the chance to be happy.

And just this once, Jyuushiro chose to be selfish.

Shunsui would be so very proud of him.

He smoothly rose to his feet, faltering only slightly when a cough escaped him. “How about a stroll through the garden?” he suggested, feeling faintly nervous himself. “I could use some fresh air. I’ve been doing paperwork all day.” He grinned and watched as Byakuya blushed again, his eyes falling away.

“Hai, senpai.”

The Kuchiki heir rose to his feet with his usual elegance, and together, the two headed for the paneled door that separated Ukitake’s office from a small garden he had built for himself several centuries earlier. The twilight wind rushed to greet them as they stepped outside, and a brief smile fluttered across Byakuya’s face that Jyuushiro did not fail to notice.

They paused in the middle of the garden, right next to a bench that was settled across from a small, gurgling brook. The older shinigami gestured that they sit on it.

“Tell me,” he began softly. “How is your mother?”

Silvery eyes fell on the brook, paying little attention to the soft noise of the bird chirping in the background. “She is doing well, considering the situation,” the Kuchiki heir answered softly. “We are hoping for a few more weeks.”

Ukitake clucked his tongue sympathetically. “I know that it must be hard for you right now.”

Byakuya nodded, feeling that familiar lump rising in his throat. It was the same that he had been fighting down ever since they had announced his mother’s illness. As much as he wanted to cry in fear for her loss, he had not. Above all, he was a Kuchiki, and Kuchiki men were composed and strong.

They did not cry. Or if they did, it was where no one could see them.

He swallowed thickly, turning to the thirteenth division captain as he remembered his original mission. He licked his lips, feeling the words surge to the tip of his tongue. All that was left was the courage to speak them.

“Senpai… I…” he trailed off, speech unsuccessful as his heart pounded loudly in his chest. For several years, he had been harboring this secret, hiding his feelings deep inside, but now, they had grown far more than he could ever hope to contain. They were consuming him from the inside out.

His eyes drifted off to the side as his nerve failed him. He could feel the patent flush of embarrassment spread across his cheeks, which didn’t make his nervousness fade in the slightest. 

And then, soft fingers covered his hands, which were currently clenched tightly in his lap. The unexpected touch startled Byakuya, and his heart leapt as he raised his eyes.

Ukitake was smiling at him again, calm and gentle as always. His dark gaze was even sparkling, hiding some emotion that Byakuya could not even detect.

“What do you wish to tell me, kouhai?” Jyuushiro questioned, hair fluttering in the breeze. He tilted his head to the side and leaned forward, something like anticipation flickering across his face.

The young shinigami took a deep breath, comforted by the other man’s gentle touch. He opened his mouth to speak, the words on the tip of his tongue, but they lodged in his throat. He couldn’t seem to get them past his lips. Frustrated by his lack of usual dignity, Byakuya settled for action. It was something that Yoruichi would have done… or Kuukaku and definitely Urahara. He figured as happy as they seemed to be that perhaps it was time he took a page from their book.

He leaned forward and closed the short distance between he and Jyuushiro, pressing his lips rather clumsily to the older shinigami’s. Admittedly, it was his first kiss, and somewhat embarrassingly, it was very past due. As such, he was inexperienced, but that didn’t stop him from moving his lips, trying to mimic what he had seen when he caught Kisuke and Yoruichi kissing.

Jyuushiro’s tongue slipped from his mouth, briefly teasing the seam of Byakuya’s lips before he reluctantly drew back, squeezing his kouhai’s hands comfortingly. The Kuchiki heir immediately flushed, cutting his eyes towards the ground.

Ukitake found the blush rather endearing. He grinned, though it was much more heated and wild than his normal smiles.

“I had hoped it was not a one way attraction,” the thirteenth division captain commented lightly, and his heart fluttered happily.

Shunsui was going to dance a damn jig when he found out.

Byakuya’s cheeks literally burned. “I… uh…” he was stammering. He couldn’t believe it. Normally composed as all members of his clan, Byakuya was stuttering.

Jyuushiro only beamed. “Let us enjoy the sky, ne? We can watch the stars come out.” He squeezed Byakuya’s hand again and turned his eyes heavenwards as their fingers intertwined, seemingly of their own accord.

A breeze rose up, ruffling their hair and carrying with it the scent of sakura blossoms.

Silvery eyes turned to the darkening sky as well, feeling more at peace than he ever had. All worries faded for a time, and the nervousness that had wracked him wilted away.

It was a long time before Jyuushiro decided to return to his paperwork.

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