Byakuya...(92)

Sora had a smirk on his face as he got in close. He moved his hand lazily, tracing the air just beside her waist but never actually making contact.

He found this whole situation quite fun.

"Oh? You have no idea what I'm talking about?" His voice was smooth, teasing, yet dangerously low. "Then I guess I must be imagining things."

If she wanted to play this game, he would play it with her.

Rukia's finger twitched slightly, but she wasn't backing down.

But Sora—the master baiter he was... He was a master at baiting people... yeah, that sounded way better.

He could see the slight hesitation in her violet eyes.

"Alright then, if we're just talking, I guess I'll take my time." He reached up, brushing a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing against her skin just enough to send a subtle shiver through her. "It's only fair, don't you think?"

Manipulating his Reishi in such a way that each touch had the most desirable outcome, and since she was still in her spirit form... speaking of which—

CLICK

CLICK

Okay, that was better.

Rukia narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to maintain her composure, but the way her yukata slipped just a bit more off her shoulder betrayed her.

"You're enjoying this too much."

Sora tilted his head. "You started it."

"Did I?"

He smirked, his fingers drifting lower, tracing the edge of the fabric resting against her collarbone. "Oh, you definitely did." His voice dropped an octave. "And I plan on making you own up to it."

Rukia swallowed, but her expression remained steady. "Big words, but you wouldn't actually do anything."

"Oh?" Sora leaned in, his breath ghosting against her ear. "You sure about that?"

Rukia inhaled sharply, her body tensing for just a second before she immediately covered it up with a scoff. "You wouldn't."

Sora grinned. "Wanna bet?"

He kissed her—a slow, passionate kiss.

His hand explored her body as their lips connected.

Nothing else seemed to matter. Her hand was now wrapped around his neck, his arm secured around her waist.

The world around them faded away.

Her inexperience showed, but for Sora, the more this went on, the more his little wheel spun. He was getting better and better at it as they went.

His power was the ability to adapt to any and all phenomena—whether it was changing his biology to have the black substance, mimicking Zanpakuto abilities, or relationships.

They all fell within his range of adaptation.

There was nothing that existed that he could not adapt to. As long as he needed to adapt, he would.

Whether it was something as simple as a school test or being better in bed... nothing was beyond his capability.

Rukia was suddenly beneath him, out of breath, a faint blush on her cheeks.

Her clothing was slightly parted, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she gazed up at him.

She looked absolutely adorable beneath him.

He was going to have fun.

Well, time to go to p—

His vision shifted.

A familiar figure was standing outside the door.

Not knocking.

Not making a sound.

Just standing there.

...That was Byakuya.

FUCK.

Why did he have to come now?

Sora's gaze flickered, scanning the area. The time read 5:30 PM.

It was currently 5:28 PM.

Shit.

As the two extra pupils vanished, Rukia didn't notice a thing. Sora had a thin layer of Reishi around his eyes—he had limited control over this ability, and sometimes it activated on its own.

He was thankful for it this time.

Because how the hell would he explain this to Byakuya?

Giving Rukia a light kiss on the lips, he looked at his girlfriend before saying:

"Change into your Shinigami outfit. Your brother's coming."

Rukia blinked, still catching her breath. "...Huh?"

"Byakuya. He's gonna be at the door in two minutes."

She shot up immediately, her blush deepening. "W-What?! Right now?!"

"Yes. Now hurry, because I'm about to pull off the greatest save of all time."

Rukia didn't even argue, scrambling to grab her uniform while Sora bolted downstairs.

Sora moved quickly, already hatching a plan. His hand hovered over the remote, flipping on the TV and setting it to WWE. He cranked the volume up to 100.

The sound of body slams, chair shots, and loud announcers filled the house.

"BY GAWD, THAT MAN'S BEEN BROKEN IN HALF!"

Perfect.

Using his ability, he manipulated the Reishi in the room to create a mess—knocked-over furniture, scattered cushions—it looked like a fight had happened.

Sora smirked, walking to the door and waiting for exactly 5:30 PM.

Right on time, there was a knock.

Sora swung the door open with the biggest grin imaginable. "Brother-in-law! What a pleasant surprise!"

Byakuya Kuchiki stood at the doorway, his usual stoic expression unchanged—but Sora could feel the faintest what the hell did you just call me energy radiating from him.

Byakuya narrowed his eyes. "I am here for Rukia."

Sora leaned against the doorframe, nodding. "Yeah, she's changing right now."

Byakuya's gaze sharpened. His spiritual pressure subtly flared. "Why are you out of breath?"

Sora froze for half a second before smoothly recovering.

"Ah, you see..." He glanced back at the TV, where some guy just got powerbombed through a table. "We were wrestling."

Silence.

Byakuya stared at him, then at the deafening TV. His eyes narrowed further.

Something about this felt planned. Too planned.

His gaze searched the room... it did look like a fight had happened.

Yet... he did not believe him.

"...I do not believe you."

Sora didn't miss a beat. "Swear on Uryū's soul, nothing inappropriate was happening here."

...

...

'Sorry, Uryū.'

Before Byakuya could question further, Rukia descended the stairs, now fully dressed in her shinigami uniform. "Brother," she greeted, her voice a little too even.

Byakuya turned to her, his gaze shifting between her and Sora. "...What happened?"

Sora gestured toward the TV. "Like I said—wrestling."

Byakuya's eyebrow twitched.

Rukia, to Sora's absolute delight, didn't even deny it. "Yeah... wrestling."

A long pause.

Byakuya exhaled through his nose. He didn't believe them, not one bit, but also realized he didn't want to pursue this further.

His instinct told him something was off.

"...I will take my leave," he said flatly.

Sora smiled, giving him a thumbs-up. "Good talk, brother-in-law."

Byakuya's gaze darkened slightly. "Sora, I advise you to watch your steps. If my sister were to get hurt because of you..."

Was that murderous intent?

Byakuya disappeared in a flash step.

As soon as the door closed, Rukia smacked Sora upside the head. "Wrestling?! Seriously?!"

Sora rubbed his head, grinning. "Hey, it worked, didn't it?"

Rukia groaned, shaking her head. "...You are insufferable."

"And you love it," Sora quipped.

Rukia opened her mouth to argue—then closed it, rolling her eyes as a small smile tugged at her lips.

Sora: 1

Byakuya's suspicion: 0.

But seriously, he was way too close to getting caught.

Rukia suddenly turned to him, frowning. "Sora... how did you know my brother was coming?"

Sora hesitated for a second.

He could tell her... but she was still a Shinigami, and the higher-ups—

"I sensed his Reiatsu when he got out of the Senkaimon," he answered smoothly.

He'd tell her the full truth someday.

But first, he had to make sure she could protect herself.

A/N