#Accident Law Firm Palm Springs

[thebaumlawfirm]

Get the Compensation You Deserve with The Baum Law Firm, Serving Palm Springs and Beyond

The Baum Law Firm is a trusted and reputable law firm specializing in personal injury cases. With a team of experienced and dedicated lawyers, we have been serving clients in Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, and Palm Desert for years. Our goal is to help clients get the compensation they rightfully deserve for their injuries and losses.

At The Baum Law Firm, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial impact that a personal injury can have on an individual and their loved ones. That's why we are committed to providing personalized and compassionate legal representation for each and every one of our clients. We know that every case is unique and we take the time to understand the specifics of each situation in order to build a strong case on behalf of our clients.

Our team of Personal Injury Lawyers in Desert Hot Springs is highly experienced and knowledgeable in handling a wide range of cases, including car accidents, slips and falls, workplace injuries, and more. We have a thorough understanding of personal injury laws and we use this to our advantage in fighting for our client’s rights. Our goal is to make the legal process as smooth and stress-free as possible for our clients, so they can focus on their recovery.

If you have been injured in an accident in Palm Springs, our team of dedicated lawyers is here to help. We have years of experience representing clients in a variety of personal injury cases, including those involving car accidents. Our Palm Springs Accident Lawyer is well-versed in the state's laws and regulations related to car accidents and we use this knowledge to build a strong case on behalf of our clients. We will handle all communication and negotiations with insurance companies so our clients can focus on their recovery.

If you have suffered a personal injury in Palm Desert, we have you covered as well. Our Palm Desert Personal Injury Attorney has a deep understanding of the local court system and we have a track record of successfully representing clients in a variety of cases. We know how to negotiate with insurance companies and we are not afraid to take a case to trial if necessary. Our ultimate goal is to help our clients get the compensation they rightfully deserve for their injuries and losses.

If you have been injured in Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, or Palm Desert, don’t hesitate to contact The Baum Law Firm. Our team is ready to provide you with a free consultation and answer any questions you may have about your case. We work on a contingency basis, which means you don't pay us unless we win your case. Trust us to handle your personal injury case with the utmost care and commitment. For more info give us a call at (760) 325-2681 or visit us at:- https://baumlawfirm.com/!

[palmdesertaccidentattorney00]

Visit us:- https://palmdesertaccident.com/ 

[mrs-hatake]

here comes the bride: prologue

pairings: levi x female!reader + minor zeke x female!reader.

genre: alternate universe, illegal car racing, suggestive themes, arranged marriage, strangers to lovers, slow burn, falling in love, eventual smut, heavy make out sessions, hurt/comfort & fluff.

summary: “Fine.” She breathes out without bothering to hide her unhappiness. “I’ll get married.” She swallows the bile at the back of her throat. Her mother casts a radiant smile her way and weakly reaches out to take her hand in hers. 

“Thank you.” She says sincerely, bringing Y/N’s hand to her lips and kissing it with difficulty. “I’m sure you’ll come to love Levi, he will treat you right.”

a/n: helloooooo!I'm back with another aot fic :Dthe plot for this fic came to me randomly and i instantly fell in love that i HAD to write everything down. each chapter will contain trigger warnings if necessary and this chapter is tagged with tw for mentions of death and manipulation. lastly, I would like to thank my soulmate for helping with proof reading and selecting the appropriate characters for y/n. that's all that I have. happy readings! ❤️

this fic can also be found on ao3

The sound of the monitor is deafening. It’s consistent beeping is accompanied by the soft pitter patter of the rain outside as the weather slowly transitions from spring to summer, emitting an ominous atmosphere. The grey clouds and the wind howling outside, the large rectangular windows outside don’t help with the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. People rush to seek shelter and cars zoom by despite the slippery streets, eager to reach their destination without delay.

A small family of three surround a luxurious hospital bed which fully showcased their financial status and class. The bed was covered in the finest linen, a soft cream color and the silkiest pillows that accommodate  absolute comfort.

An air purifier with the aroma of lavender and honey is found in almost every room of the hospital, masking away the horrible stench of disinfectant and death. However, it still lingers in the air, like a criminal imprisoned for life.

The woman on the bed is pale, no longer looks like the tanned Goddess that had been dubbed Miss Osaka at the Young Ladies of Japan debutant three years in a row. Her long and healthy locks have lost their sheen and are brittle and dry, split ends can be seen and her grey hair is on display, when she usually dyes them every two months. The healthy fat in her body has dissolved, leaving nothing but skin and bones. Despite all of this, her glimmer of ebullience still lives on.

“How are you feeling, mother?” A young woman in her early twenties is sitting on a wooden chair next to the hospital bed with a look of worry on her face. Her fingers are brushing through the knotted hair of the dying woman on the bed while her other hand tightly holds her mother’s boney and wrinkled hand.

The older woman offers a weak, gentle smile. “I’m fine. Don’t you worry your pretty little head.” She chuckles but is soon coughing heavily, eyes shutting tightly to fight off the pain in her lungs.

“Are you alright? Should I call the nurse?”

The older woman shakes her head, however, and instead motions for the pitcher of water and the empty glass on her bedside table. Understanding dawns on her daughter’s face and she hurriedly pours a glass of warm water and hands it to her mother and helps her sit up straight to drink the entire glass in one go, her mother gasping in relief once the glass is empty.

“Mamiko.” A man in his mid sixties rubs his hand over his face in distress. He had been wearing a mask of bravery for his wife and two daughters, but seeing his usually strong and stubborn wife look so frail and weak frightened him. Memories of them butting heads, teasing each other and fighting over the course of their marriage reminds him of just how fiery his wife was. Seeing her in such a state tears off the mask he’s wearing on his face and tosses it away, exposing his true emotions.

“I’m fine, Masamune.” The woman waves him off and motions for her daughter to press the remote to raise the head of her bed so that she can sit up straight. She gives a pointed look to her husband, as if to prove her point.

All that her husband can do is sigh.

Just then, a timid knock reaches their ears and a smiling nurse enters the room with an apologetic expression on her youthful face. “I’m sorry, but visiting hours are ending soon.” She reminds them gently.

Masamune tiredly nods his head and pushes himself away from the wall to cross the short distance to where his wife is resting on the bed and lovingly kisses the top of her head. “Come back to us soon.” He whispers before heading towards the door, awaiting his two daughters.

“Get well soon, mother.” The younger of Masamune and Mamiko’s daughters, Tsukiko, is a twenty year old woman in her third year of law school and is aiming to achieve her Intellectual Property Law Certificate to assist her family in the future. She bids her mother goodbye with gentle eyes and a strong squeeze to her hand.

Y/N is about to get up from her chair and mimic her father by kissing her mother goodbye, when the older woman interrupts her, “Y/N, stay. I need to discuss something with you.”

Glancing to where her father and sister were lingering by the door, she nods her head and remains in her seat. She has a feeling that her father and younger sister are aware of the topic her mother wishes to discuss with her.

When the door is softly shut behind the two, Mamiko turns to face her eldest daughter and the heir to their company. “Have I ever told you the story of the day you were born?”

Growing up, Y/N had heard the story of her birth countless times from her parents, her grandmother who had been living with them at the time, and the maids living in their mansion all told her about it. They coined it as the funniest situation they’ve ever experienced in their lives. She had heard the story so many times that she has it memorized. Still, she shakes her head no.

“It was my twenty-fifth birthday. Your aunt Chiaki insisted that we have a girls night to celebrate the big day.” Her mother chuckles at the memory of a young Chiaki who had recently gotten a pixie cut after a terrible break up with her boyfriend of three years and how she had practically dragged Mamiko out of their house.

“We did your typical girly traditions; going shopping, getting our nails done, the usual.” Her mother weakly waves her hand. “Little did I know, your father had gathered up everyone who could come to our home on short notice for a surprise birthday party. It was around three or four o’clock in the afternoon that Chiaki and I finally decided to return home. I opened the door and the lights flickered on and a discordant ‘Happy birthday!’ was yelled. I was so elated and touched by their surprise that I couldn’t stop laughing! I laughed and laughed for five minutes straight, literally, when I felt a warm and tingling sensation trickle down my legs. Though I should be embarrassed at the thought of wetting myself in front of our guests, we quickly realized that the speed and the amount of liquid rushing through was actually because my water broke.”

“Everyone screamed and squeaked at the arrival of the baby. Panicking, I was rushed into the car with your father hysterically, frantically gathering all of the necessities we need for your delivery and drove all the way to the hospital like a mad man. Now that I think about it, I’m surprised we didn’t get into some kind of accident.” Mamiko hummed at the thought and then turned to face her daughter with raw affection in those fatigued eyes of hers, and with a shaky hand, cupped her daughter’s cheek. “And two days later, our beautiful baby girl came into our world. Your father had complained that you were as stubborn as I am for taking two days to arrive but I knew that you were taking your time to get comfortable and face the world head on.”

Y/N offered her mother a small smile as she desperately tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill and swallow the thick lump in her throat. “I love you.” She whispers with a hoarse voice.

“I love you too.” Her mother returns the sentiment with a small curl of her lips.

“And you were such a joy to raise, your sister, too? of course but you were our first. Our first child, our first daughter and our first experience as parents. There were difficult times, I can’t deny that, but seeing the woman that you are today, it was worth it.”

Y/N couldn’t stop the tears from filling her eyes and cascading down her cheeks. She licks the single tear that lingered on her tongue and turned her head to kiss her mother’s palm. “I’d trade the whole world for you to return home to us in good health.” Y/N’s voice is broken but her sincerity is firm.

“I know you would.” Her mother says as she retrieves her hand. “Which is why I hate myself for asking you for such a request... but I want you to know that I am doing this out of love and care for you.”

Y/N’s eyebrows draw together in confusion before realization dawns on her and she vehemently shakes her head in denial before her mother could voice her request. “No. No, I won’t do it.”

“Please, Y/N.” Mamiko holds her daughter's hand with hers using all of the strength she could muster. “Think of it as my dying wish.”

Y/N continues to shake her head but this time her shoulders are shaking as sobs rake her body. “Don’t say that!”

Neither of them say anything as Y/N continues to cry at the predicament they are in. Her mother; old, frail, and dying and is begging her to do the one thing that Y/N loathes more than anything. She had fought all her life with her parents to be emancipated from their backwards traditions, live her life how she sees fit and make her own decisions accordingly.

“I know your father and I weren’t the perfect example of a happy couple and that you have witnessed things little girls your age shouldn’t have witnessed but we tried to be decent and put together for your and Tsukiko’s sake.”

Suddenly, the memories of her parents screaming at the top of their lungs, insulting each other with words that Y/N knew she wasn’t meant to hear, and her father harshly grabbing her mother’s upper arm until it bruised, all came flooding in that moment. She had bare witness to their flawed marriage.

“I won’t force you into an arranged marriage, but I won’t die happy knowing that my first and eldest daughter isn’t married.” Mamiko knows that she is guilty of manipulating her daughter into a marriage, especially by using her nearing death as leverage, however, she is certain that her daughter will one day find it in her heart to forgive her. And that’s why she pushes on with her dying wish.

“Your father and I have already found a suitable man-”

“You found someone behind my back?” Y/N unintentionally snorts at her mother as though she does not care. She is hurting and is scared of being blackmailed into marriage.

Mamiko withholds the urge to heavily sigh at her daughter and patiently explains herself. “Your marital status has been haunting us for years, we can’t just ignore the fact that our daughter wishes to remain single for the rest of her life.”

“And you can’t just respect my wishes, can you?”

Mamiko’s eyes seem to glass over and get shiny, she hesitates, yet still won’t back down. She was doing this for her daughter. “Stop being stubborn for once and listen to your mother.”

Y/N rolls her eyes as she humorlessly chuckles at her mother. She had done everything for her mother’s sake, sacrificed so much to make her happy. And the one time Y/N asks for the same in return, she is strongly denied of it.

Her mother’s coughing fit snaps Y/N out of her stupor and she hastily refills the glass with water and gives it to her. Perhaps it could be the works of her mother’s illness or the inevitable truth of her mother’s demise that has Y/N letting out a noiseless exhale, her shoulders sagging as she slumps into her seat.

“Fine.” She breathes out without bothering to hide her unhappiness. “I’ll get married.” She swallows the bile at the back of her throat.

Her mother casts a radiant smile her way and weakly reaches out to take her hand in hers. “Thank you.” She says sincerely, bringing Y/N’s hand to her lips and kissing it with difficulty.

“I’m sure you’ll come to love Levi, he will treat you right.”

When she hears that name and recognizes who he is, it feels like cold water is being dumped all over her and she shivers at the thought of a future being married to an expressionless and strict man. In that instance, she felt like she wanted to bolt and run away with a new identity. But for her mother’s sake, she puts on a brave smile and nods her head.

[baumlawfirm]

Hemet Car Accident Lawyer

The Baum Law Firm is the most well-known and skilled Indio and Hemet car accident attorney.  We will not charge fees unless and until we obtain money for your case through a legal decision.

Contact Us: Address:     777 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 200-100, Palm Springs, CA 92262, United States Phone:       (760) 325-2681 Website:     https://baumlawfirm.com/

[brainfoster12]

All Personal Injuries Attorneys in palm desert

ur successful Personal Injury Attorneys strive to maximize each client’s compensation from an Insurance Settlement or Judgment, and no legal fees are ever owed unless we recover money in your case. We also provide referrals to local physicians to diagnose and treat your injuries. At The Baum Law Firm, our Personal Injury Attorneys and Auto Accident Lawyers in Palm Desert, Indio and Palm Springs have been helping accident victims for more than five decades, recovering tens of millions for our clients. Contact us today for a TELEPHONE CONSULTATION with an experienced Palm Desert Personal Injury Attorney and Car Accident Lawyer. We welcome the chance to speak to you about any motor vehicle accident, wrongful death, or personal injury claim. Put our experience to work for you today!

[holladaylawfirm]

Choosing The Right Protective Bicycle Gear

Bike accidents are a small but not insignificant portion of vehicle accidents, but these crashes can result in severe injuries. Injured cyclists should always contact a Spring, TX bicycle accident lawyer for help with a possible legal claim. Due to their vulnerable position, bicyclists and motorcyclists face a considerably more significant risk of severe injury and death than drivers involved in vehicle accidents. If you or a loved one were involved in a severe bicycle accident, you might be entitled to claim damages in a personal injury or wrongful death case against the parties at fault. This happens when an accident and injuries were caused by another driver or negligent party. It’s crucial to speak to a local Spring, TX bicycle accident lawyer in the aftermath of an accident. Still, before such an incident, you must choose the right protective gear to mitigate the risk of serious injury. Here’s how you go about doing precisely that. Helmets Head injuries and catastrophic injuries to the spine, skull, and brain are some of the deadliest repercussions of bike accidents. The National Safety Council attributes that one-third of non-fatal bicycle accidents are head injuries. Even when these incidents don’t lead to death, they can still have tragic life-altering ramifications, including paralysis, memory loss, and brain damage. Fortunately, while it can’t prevent the full impact of these injuries, a helmet can significantly mitigate the severity associated with such head injuries. That same NSC report found that helmets can lower the risk of these severe catastrophic injuries by up to 50%, which, while not perfect, is far better than wearing no helmet at all. To choose a good helmet, look for a product that’s snug but not too tight, touts a durable outer layer and soft inner layer, and has positive reviews to corroborate its protective efficacy. Pads Since victims often fall sideways when losing balance, knees and elbows are vulnerable points that usually brace the brunt of bicycle accidents. This leaves the limbs prone to sustaining painful sprains, fractures, or road rash abrasion injuries where surfaces embed in the skin like shrapnel. To choose the right knee and elbow pads, evaluate them based on durability, breathability, and flexibility. Density and tightness isn’t always a good thing if that rigidity limits your range of motion and impedes your ability to ride safely. Actively measure your arms and legs with tape to ensure such pads fit as snugly as possible and ask the vendor to help you find the right fit. Gloves Just as you’ll want to protect your arms from abrasions, you’ll also want to be sure to protect your hands as well. Not only will you have to endure potential road rash from the asphalt or surface debris, but dirt and dust accumulations if you’re traversing down a mountain or rugged natural terrain. Long-distance riding anywhere is also bound to risk chafing, blistering, numbness, or carpal tunnel syndrome. To protect your fingers and hands, you must pick out some nice biking gloves. You can go with a fingerless, half-finger, or full-finger design, but regardless, look for gloves with a comfortable fabric that wicks away moisture, breathable but durable padding, and a full, extended palm. Additionally, look for a finger material that enables you to grip tightly and use touchscreens as effortlessly as you could with your bare fingers, in the event you need to dial 9-1-1. Torso Protectors While your head and limbs are the most vulnerable to serious injury in bike accidents, your chest has vitals of its own. So with that in mind, consider investing in a durable vest that secures your chest, neck, and more excellent torso from harm. This could range from lightweight roost protectors to full body armor to neck braces meant to sustain high-impact force. These more durable protections are recommended for bikers riding steep mountainous terrain. Look for torso protectors with a snug fit, durable outer shell made of nylon or carbon fiber, and enough layers to integrate spine and neck protection. Both neck braces and body armor generally run a few hundred if you want a high-quality product, and while that may seem costly, it’s far less expensive than a medical bill from the ER. Fortunately, if the most unfortunate happens, you might be able to recoup some of those losses. Let a Spring, TX Bicycle Accident Lawyer Handle Your Case For years, Holladay Law Firm has tackled a wide variety of personal injury and wrongful death cases, including bike crash cases, across Spring, Houston, and Tomball, Texas. Help our Spring, TX bicycle accident lawyer help you and contact us today to arrange a free case evaluation!

[thxwanderer]

Drabble thingamabob-Love and Defend

Drabble Memes / [ still accepting ] Love — I’ll write a drabble of my character admitting they love yours.Defend — I’ll write a drabble of my character protecting yours.

Tony kind of wonders how he always seems to find himself in these unorthodox situations. He didn’t think he would be back in a courtroom since the car accident when he was 19 or the drunken bender when he was 22 and 23 and 2- He just didn’t think he would have to be here in any way, shape or capacity. He had a running joke with the team that if any of them were ever on trial, he wouldn’t testify on their behalf because it’s just too much work and a waste of space in his brain.

“And yet here I am,” The genius murmured with a shake of his head, lightly pulling at the cuff of his sleeves; He had allowed the tower’s mascot, Lu, choose what to wear, but now the sleeves of his suit were starting to be a bother, feel constricting. Maybe Tony was nervous; but it’s not like this is the first time he had someone’s life on the line, he protected the whole damn city-continent-world from disaster on a near-daily basis. 

This shouldn’t be hard on him.

Then again, this is for a friend. 

.x.

“Mr. Stark, how well do you know the defendant?” Tony deliberately sighed at the question, leaning forward enough to rest his elbow on his thigh and chin against his open palm.

“Well enough to know that she didn’t kill anyone.” It was as blunt as he could make it. He was missing out on a meeting and he knew that Harris was tired of being on the other side of the law like a common criminal. He appreciated that she reached out to him for help, appreciated that he could do something, anything for her. 

“And how would you know this?” The prosecutor questioned again, brow arching as he stared down at the hero; Tony kind of wanted to get him fired for the stiffness in his neck and grey suit. 

“I have access to more information than you and your little firm could dream of. I know for a fact that she was nowhere near the crime scene or in the vicinity because there were no fingerprints, no hairs, nothing of hers tying her to the crime scene, no audio or visuals, tapes. She was even recorded being out of town. You have the records, and so do I. Am I finished here? There’s obviously been a coverup and you’re wasting everyone’s time-” Tony stops, breathes in and calms himself down. He’s been too snappy and he’s hungry and he should be in bed right now. Sue him for being tired (please don’t). 

“And how would you kn-”

“I’m not an accomplice to a murderer if that’s the road we’re on. I care about Harris, yes. She is an important person to me and someone I value and I won’t have someone dressed in a 2009 spring suit tell me otherwise. She didn’t do this. This has been a setup-” Tony turned his head to glance at the judge who was trying her best not to smile at being in his presence.

“Can I go now?”

[palmdesertaccidentattorney00]

Recovering from Injuries: Let Our Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys Help you

If you are hurt in a car accident, or injured in any type of vehicle accident in Palm Desert or Palm Springs, then you need an experienced Palm Desert Car Accident Attorney to protect your legal rights.

At Palm Desert Car Accident Attorneys, we are one of the most successful and recognized personal injury law firms in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and beyond. Since 1959, we have helped thousands of people throughout Palm Springs and Palm Desert get back on their feet after being injured in all types of accidents, including car accidents, personal injury, dog bites, and many others.

Our dedicated Palm Springs Personal Injury Attorneys and Car Accident Attorneys believe that all injury and accident victims have the right to be fully and fairly compensated for all of their loss and damage after the accident, and there are no legal fees we will take unless we recover money in your case. Our team of personal injury attorneys and car accident lawyers handle all types of vehicle accidents and injury claims in Palm Desert, Indio, and Palm Springs.

Our Palm Desert Car Accident Attorneys also offer expert services as Palm Springs Dog Bite Attorneys. If you have suffered a dog bite, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly to prevent any lasting damage. Our personal dog bite lawyer can check your dog bite claim and ensure you get the compensation you are deserve for your injuries.

In addition, our experienced dog bite lawyers know that any damages and loss must include the cost of therapy and counseling. Even what seems like a minor dog bite can cause the victim to experience flashbacks, nightmares and even, symptoms of PTSD. The dog bite attorneys at Palm Desert Car Accident Attorneys have many years of experience handling dog bite cases and we make sure you get the compensation you deserve. For more info, you can contact us at (760) 325-2681 or visit:- www.palmdesertaccident.com!

[freeminimaps]

Palm Springs Personal Injury Attorneys

With proficient and successful Palm Springs Car Accident Attorneys and Palm Springs Personal Injury Attorneys, we can help to recover full and fair money in your case at The Baum Law Firm.

Palm Springs Personal Injury Attorneys was originally published on Business directory and remarkable travel blog!

[gunnerpalace]

(Art by @gabecebro, used with permission and originally posted here; if you like it, please go show your appreciation!)

GROUNDED! - A Bleach AU Idea Revised

You might’ve seen the original idea for Grounded! before. Long story short, it’s evolved significantly since that post was made. Namely, I (among others) fell for YoruIchiRuki as an AU OT3, so it’s now the start of a much longer series of adventures for the three. So, I’ve decided to publicly expand upon the idea as originally presented.

INTRODUCTION

Ichigo is fascinated with a jet-haired flight attendant he weirdly keeps running into. Okay, well, that was true the first half-a-dozen times. Then he pulled some favors and found out who she was and what her route was. What? They just wind up flying together a lot and staying in the same layover cities pretty often. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just a coincidence. He’s never even talked to her really, except to occasionally ask for a Coke. She probably doesn’t even know he exists.

Or perhaps Rukia does, but thinks much the same.

But for every awkward problem in the world, there’s an equally awkward solution! Enter Yoruichi—that’s Captain Shihōin to you, buddy—who’s never met someone she wanted to bed that didn’t wind up there the next morning.

When all three of them wind up stuck during a layover because of the worst blizzard in a century, Yoruichi happily plies her wiles on Rukia, only to soon discover she’s stepped into a thorny situation. Feeling more than a little guilty, because she really likes Rukia, she decides to adopt a new pet project: she’s going to get the two of them together, hell or high water.

There's just one problem: nothing ever works out that cleanly or easily.

SETTING

Grounded! takes place in an alternate universe (AU) from Bleach. While Bleach is essentially a "secret history” of our world, Grounded! occurs in a familiar but historically divergent reality.

The short version is that it takes place in a North America that resembles the setting of the film Big Hero 6, with a fusion of Japanese and American sensibilities and cultures.

The long version is a little more complicated. Our divergence begins in late 1580s Japan. Toyotomi Hideyoshi ultimately does not adopt Oda Nobunaga's vision of invading Ming China through Joseon Korea, determining it to be infeasible. Instead, after unifying Japan, he decides to deal with Japan's excess of military strength through seafaring raids and invasions (much like the Vikings and Normans in outcome), rather than an extended ground campaign.

Drawing from the experiences of the wokou pirates of the Sengoku period, samurai are dispatched to other nearby targets instead: against the Ainu in Hokkaido (which is occupied much earlier than historically), Taiwan (which becomes "Japanese Formosa," with both the Dutch and Spanish being held off some decades later), the Philippines, parts of Indonesia, the Bruneian Empire, the Jurchens in the Ussuri region, Sakhalin, the Kurils, and Kamchatka... It isn’t long until some of these spearheads arrive in Hawaii and Alaska, and soon the North American West Coast. Word eventually gets back about the bounty of these areas, along with raiding opportunities on Spanish galleons, and the center of focus shifts dramatically.

Thus, the Japanese are the ones to colonize the West Coast of the continent, pushing inward as far as the Rocky Mountains. The fertile terrain and easy access from the Pacific draws settlers much faster than historical settlement from the east. Discoveries of gold occur much earlier, and the region as a whole develops much more rapidly. It’s at this time that the great families such as the Shihōin, Kuchiki, and Shiba gain their wealth and stature. Eventually, they develop ideas of their own, and much like their equivalents in the British colonies on the East Coast later will, they guide the colony to independence.

This West Coast nation later comes into contact with those same British colonies, and there is much trade and cross-pollination between them, with heavy infusions of Mexican, Anglo, and later continental European settlers into the region, creating a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Eventually, the great families conspire to assist the British colonies in achieving their own independence. Faced with hostile colonizing powers across each ocean (namely, Japan and Britain), the two ally, and eventually federate together into a single country occupying what in our world is Canada and the United States. (For the sake of convenience, this will still be addressed as “the United States,” but it is rather different internally.) Much of the rest of history goes roughly the same, with the West and North crushing the South in the Civil War, participation in WW1 and WW2, and engagement in a Cold War with the Soviet Union that ends in the early 2000s. (I can’t be bothered making too elaborate of a timeline; things are different, but similar enough.)

It’s February of 2017. By this point in time, the Shihōin, Kuchiki, and their peers have a reputation akin to the Rockefellers and Rothschilds of the East Coast, although their wealth is older and significantly more substantial: they regard their East Coast Anglo counterparts as petty nouveau riche in comparison. The Shiba seem to have retreated from the public eye.

Grounded! proper takes place in Calgary, in what we’d call Canada, although it’s somewhat different. All of the main characters reside in what we’d know as the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area, although in this setting it’s known as Murakumo (叢雲, "cloudbank") and is a much, much larger city.

(For the record, San Diego is Heisui [平水, "calm water"], Los Angeles is Aozora [青空, "blue sky"], San Francisco-Oakland is Miyako [都, "capital"], Portland is Fūsawa [豊川, "rich river"], and Vancouver is Shiroyama [白山, "white mountain"]; the relationship between Murakumo and Shiroyama, and their degree of urbanization, is like Tokyo and Yokohama, or Osaka and Kobe.)

The great families maintain their primary compounds in Miyako, although they have presences pretty much everywhere, and can often be found in places such as the equivalents of Malibu, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas, as well as in New York and Martha’s Vineyard. (They love sticking it to their East Coast counterparts and the new suits who think they run things.)

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

Yoruichi Shihōin - 32 years old (January 1, 1985). Wealthy scion. Ex-fighter jock. Consummate hedonist. Born to privilege, she was never one for the boardroom and bucked tradition, joining the Navy straight out of college and gaining acclaim both as their first female fighter pilot and first female ace. But the military life was never for her either, and a lucrative offer from an airline stole her away from them—not that she ever needed the money. It’s more that it was a fun and free way to see the world... and more besides. Yoruichi fought in something like the equivalent of the Gulf War for the Navy, flying an F-14D, although it took place much later (circa 2008; she joined at 22 and left at 28). She met Kisuke shortly after leaving. She lives alone in a condo, although she visits him often before the events of the story. She still has all her resources as a Shihōin, but avoids going home at all costs.

Ichigo Kurosaki - 24 years old (July 15, 1992). Young buck. Newbie lawyer. Angsty type. Coming from a middle-class background and having fought his way to the top through grit and determination, he’s hungry to prove... something. He just doesn’t know what yet. The latest hire to a vast and prestigious law firm (”Prism”), and specializing in corporate law, he’s really the newest gofer on the jet-set lifestyle, delivering documents and briefs all over the world. It doesn’t often leave him a lot of time for other pursuits. Ichigo lost his mother Masaki at the age of 9 to a freak accident that would later influence his decision to pursue a career in law. He has his own small apartment, but visits his family’s home often. His sisters still live there while attending the local (yet prestigious) Murakumo University, same as he did.

Rukia Kuchiki - 26 years old (January 14, 1991). Youthful sprite. Veteran Stewardess. Feisty upstart. Rukia’s past is known to very few, and she was adopted into the Kuchiki family under still mysterious circumstances in her early teens, after which she mostly grew up in elite educational institutions. She only entered the family business a few years ago. Her connection to the top of the food-chain doesn’t mean a cushy job though—she’s expected to work her way up. She’s been around the world more times than she’s been around the sun, but there are certain things she’s still yet to find. Kaien Shiba died saving her after she fell into a pond through thin spring ice when she was 16. She lives with her brother in the family’s compound in Murakumo.

Byakuya Kuchiki - 34 years old (January 31, 1983). Lonely widower. Tireless industrialist. Overprotective brother. The latest heir to the Kuchiki family and CEO of the massive Kuchiki International, he tirelessly seeks to expand his company's rule over the friendly skies, and further the fortunes of his extended family. Unfortunately however, sometimes even a CEO with a controlling interest has to bow to the stockholders. Byakuya set out to chart his own course, away from the prying eyes of the Kuchiki elders, wanting to make a name and a fortune for himself as independently as he could. His selection of Murakumo was no accident. He was briefly married to Hisana, who died of a rare genetic condition; he fulfilled her last wish of adopting Rukia and developed an enduring interest in biotech research as a result. He has his own vast estate, on what in our world is Mercer Island.

Kūkaku Shiba - 31 years old (October 1, 1985) Reclusive heiress. Aspiring artist. Restless soul. The daughter of old-money that fell off the grid, she’s interested in applying her family’s wealth toward some noble end. Ironically, the social circles she runs in are small and she’s wound up in the orbit of her departed brother’s nemesis, while her eccentric uncle keeps refusing to return her calls. That is, whenever she can make one, when Yoruichi’s not on the line about this or that conquest or stop... Kūkaku allowed the prominence of the Shiba to decline markedly after Kaien’s death and the departure of her uncle, Isshin; the Shiba were never as prominent as the other families, and most of their assets are now shuttered. Still, she holds a vast amount of wealth at her fingertips. She lives in a stately penthouse condo with her brother Ganju and their two butlers, and spends most of her time there.

There will be some additional minor characters popping up who will be familiar to everyone.

Kisuke Urahara - (37 years old, December 31, 1980) owns a bar (”Free Radical”) in Murakumo. In his early 20s he ditched working on his doctoral thesis at MIT to join both CIAs (the Culinary Institute of America and the Central Intelligence Agency) for a number of years, before moving across the continent and dabbling in mixology, molecular gastronomy, and brewing. He’s Yoruichi’s closest friend after Kūkaku, as well as her on-again, off-again lover, although their relationship is rather loose and fluid.

Rangiku Matsumoto - (30 years old, September 29, 1986) another flight attendant (albeit a senior one; a Chief Purser) for Kuchiki International, she’s more than a little familiar with Yoruichi, having flown with her before and having had an extended adventure with her on at least one occasion. They’re quite friendly and tend to hang out some during their journeys when teamed up, but aren’t really close friends off the job. She views it as not just her job to watch over the younger flight crew, but her duty.

Izuru Kira - (26 years old, March 27, 1991) Yoruichi’s long-time co-pilot, they’ve been working together for two years, with her serving as his mentor. Very staid and by-the-book, he’s the professional counterpart to her wily and by-the-seat-of-her-pants style, and often the focal point of her and Rangiku’s shenanigans. He’s the proud owner of an out-of-style painter’s brush mustache and has managed to keep it despite several attempts by them to shave it off.

Yoruichi, Kūkaku, Byakuya, Kisuke, and Rangiku grew up in an environment more like that of our 1980s, while Ichigo, Rukia, and Kira grew up in a climate that was more like the 1990s.

In addition, there are others who’ll pop up as background characters, such as: Isshin, Karin, and Yuzu Kurosaki (as, of course, Ichigo’s family); Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, Retsu Unohana, Nanao Ise, Isane Kotetsu, Kiyone Kotetsu, Sentarō Kotsubaki, and Hanatarō Yamada (as staff at Prism, Ichigo’s law firm; Shunsui,  Jūshirō, and Retsu are the senior partners); Renji Abarai (alluded to only; Rukia’s college boyfriend and one-time first lover); Suì Fēng and Marechiyo Ōmaeda (possibly alluded to only for now; Yoruichi’s former junior wingman, and her Radar Intercept Officer, respectively); and probably more (including Tatsuki Arisawa, Uryū Ishida, and Yasutora “Chad” Sado). Even more characters will appear in cameos, such as Gin Ichimaru (a national network weatherman) and Sōsuke Aizen (an anchor for the same).

SYNOPSIS

Day 1: On their first night stuck in Calgary, Yoruichi decides she’s going to take the opportunity to unwind, and goes to find and approach Rukia. At this same time, Ichigo finds himself unable to do the same, and drowns his sorrows for the evening, having already informed his firm of his situation. Rukia is initially wary and uncertain for various reasons, but Yoruichi makes it clear she’s not trying to abuse her position or pressure her, and that Rukia can stop or leave at any time if she feels uncomfortable.

Rukia eventually decides to go with Yoruichi to her suite out of curiosity more than anything else. They shower and spend time relaxing in the tub together, with Yoruichi endeavoring to put Rukia at ease. When she finally tries kissing Rukia, the latter is surprised to find she enjoys it. They spend some more time talking, and eventually dry off by a fireplace, slowly beginning to become more intimate. Ultimately, they make love, with Yoruichi leading at first, and fall asleep together.

Day 2: They wake up pleasantly the next morning, and have a room service breakfast, getting ready together. Rukia isn’t quite sure what to do, but knows she doesn’t want to just leave. Yoruichi finds she doesn’t want that either, and offers to spend the day together. Rukia enthusiastically agrees, and they explore what the airport has to offer, going to a spa and salon together, having lunch, doing some shopping, seeing a movie, and having something of a date night.

They’re settling in for a second evening together when Rukia gets a call from Rangiku saying that the stewardesses have been looking for her, and want her to come hang out the next day. Rukia reluctantly agrees, before turning her attention back to Yoruichi. Ichigo spends the day dealing with his work and helping Prism compensate for the fact he can’t get to where he needs to be, but still finds time to mope in the evening.

Day 3: The morning goes much the same, with Rukia reluctant to leave. Yoruichi gently shoos her, telling her they can always meet up again if she wants. She cheekily lends Rukia a toy and sends her off with a kiss. Afterwards, Yoruichi calls Kūkaku—whom she knows has been associating with Byakuya lately—to gossip a bit. Kūkaku is nonplussed at hearing the news, but knows it’s hopeless to try and stop Yoruichi. Soon after the call, she meets with Byakuya to discuss a corporate art installation he wants to commission.

It isn’t long after lunch when Rangiku shows up to interrogate Yoruichi, having deduced what’s happened from Yoruichi and Rukia’s absences and the change in Rukia’s mood. She informs Yoruichi about the situation between Rukia and Ichigo, which she and the other flight attendants have been aware of, and leaves Yoruichi to stew in what she’s inadvertently stepped into, thinking it to be karmic comeuppance for once.

After a brief period of self-loathing and reflection, Yoruichi decides to try and fix it by approaching Ichigo, and calls Kūkaku for moral support. Kūkaku is a bit snippy because she’s in the middle of a casual lunch with Byakuya, but something about the guy Yoruichi is talking about also sounds vaguely familiar. Yoruichi quickly finds her nerve despite Kūkaku’s warnings, and goes to find Ichigo. Byakuya invites Kūkaku to dinner the next evening.

Yoruichi discovers she has a lot of work to do if she’s going to get Ichigo and Rukia to meet smoothly, and tells Rangiku to keep Rukia distracted, telling Rukia herself that she thinks she’s coming down with a cold. She spends the evening putting the moves on Ichigo, gradually convincing him to go along with her for dinner and a movie, before doing much the same as she did with Rukia. She eventually gets him to relax and open up, and beds him too.

Day 4: Ichigo’s morning with Yoruichi is rather less serene than Rukia’s two were. Still, Yoruichi manages to once more put him at ease. She elects to spend the day in with him, as she has quite a lot to teach him if she’s going to trust someone special like Rukia to him. While he naps in the afternoon, she once more calls Rukia to put on a show of being sick, and calls Kūkaku again. Kūkaku soon figures out Ichigo is, in fact, her cousin Ichigo, and rapidly puts together what a problem this is becoming, as Yoruichi has somehow involved herself with both a Kuchiki and a Shiba at the same time as she, a Shiba, is also dealing with a Kuchiki—that very evening, in fact.

She warns Yoruichi in no uncertain terms, but Yoruichi assures her it’ll all work out before hanging up as Ichigo wakes. Kūkaku can’t reach her again. Rukia becomes a bit morose that evening as she begins to wonder if Yoruichi is intentionally avoiding her, and finds she really misses Yoruichi’s company in every way. Yoruichi puts Ichigo through his paces into the night. Kūkaku and Byakuya have a surprisingly fun dinner, that then becomes having drinks and drawing closer together, until going home is the furthest thing from Kūkaku‘s mind.

Day 5: Yoruichi wakes up as usual and has breakfast by herself, letting Ichigo sleep in. She texts Rukia to try and arrange meeting up for lunch, and soon gets an affirmative reply back. She ruminates on her plan as she gets ready, deciding it’s best to be blunt and direct. Kūkaku and Byakuya have a pleasant and lazy morning together that she teases him relentlessly about. Ichigo wakes up late in the morning, having been exhausted the previous day, and Yoruichi encourages him to get dressed to join her for lunch. Starving, he agrees.

Rukia and Ichigo are shocked to see each other at lunch. Yoruichi sincerely apologizes to Rukia, but chastises Ichigo somewhat, before introducing them, telling them how she learned about them and making the case that they belong together—after all, she’d know better than anyone! The meeting goes less well than Yoruichi had hoped, and both Ichigo and Rukia excuse themselves, heading off alone. Yoruichi is left at the table wondering if she really has messed everything up.

Another call to Kūkaku has Yoruichi learning about her situation with Byakuya, to her infinite amusement and Kūkaku’s chagrin. Byakuya deduces something is going on despite affording Kūkaku privacy for her call, given how she’s yelling, but he doesn’t pry—yet. Their example gives Yoruichi hope in persevering, but Rukia and Ichigo don’t return her texts or calls. The two spend the afternoon and evening thinking about her and each other.

That night, there’s a knock on Yoruichi’s door, and she finds Rukia outside. Rukia asks if she can come in, and after Yoruichi apologizes much more profusely, they wind up cuddling and comforting one another, before they fall asleep together. Ichigo also has a visitor: Rangiku. She invites herself into his room and makes herself comfortable in a chair, having figured out what’s going on, and begins to tell him what she knows about Rukia. Kūkaku spends another evening with Byakuya, although this time she’s a bit distracted by what’s going on, which he notices. They spend the night together again.

Day 6: Yoruichi and Rukia go to breakfast, only to be surprised when Ichigo joins them and takes a seat. They sit in silence for awhile before Yoruichi speaks up and reiterates her case. She offers to help them out if they need her to, to the horror of both. Sensing a change in their attitudes, she holds up her hands in wry surrender, leaving the two alone.

Ichigo and Rukia watch her leave before turning their attention to one another, and have a moment of awkward silence, then look away. Rukia tries to break the ice when Ichigo suddenly dismisses what Yoruichi said, yet asks her out to lunch. Surprised, she agrees. They wind up idling together and chatting until then, and after lunch, she asks him out to dinner and a movie. He also agrees.

Yoruichi, meanwhile, is communicating with Rangiku to sorta kinda spy on them as best they’re able, and in the afternoon she decides that her plan is a success. She phones Kūkaku in triumph, only for Kūkaku snap and hang up on her. Byakuya finally approaches Kūkaku, carefully noting her agitation and offering to listen. Not wanting to lie to him, and also discerning the importance of acting if it turns out Yoruichi has succeeded, Kūkaku begins to explain what happened to the Shiba, who her nearest relatives are, and what exactly has been occurring during the blizzard. Byakuya isn’t happy, but also knows he can’t do anything about it, and appreciates her honesty. He decides to wait and see what happens, and make whatever moves he has to later.

Yoruichi goes out to party with her flight crew. Despite her alcohol intolerance, she winds up having more than a few drinks.

Ichigo and Rukia have a lovely—if animated—evening, and they’re at Rukia’s hotel room, ready to part, when she invites him inside. He goes along with her, and they mutually decide to repeat how Yoruichi started out things with them. They soon discover they’re great and mind-blowing, and stay up until the early hours of the morning before collapsing in a heap together.

Day 7: Ichigo and Rukia wake up late and laze with one another, continuing to explore and get to know one another in various ways: talking, cuddling, and making love. Rukia eventually circles around to the fact that Yoruichi was right, which Ichigo grudingly admits.

Yoruichi, meanwhile, spends her seventh day resting, having thoroughly worn herself out physically and emotionally over the past week. She’s also nursing a hangover from the night before. For the 84th time, she swears off ever drinking again, and deliberately distracts herself from thinking of the two lovebirds, for reasons she doesn’t want to think about either.

Kūkaku spends the day away from Byakuya, working on her art and mulling over whether she really wants to get involved with him. He’s charming, and respectful, and the sex is amazing, but... it’s complicated. And Yoruichi hasn’t done much to help. She needs a little time to process it. She tries reaching Isshin yet again (as she periodically does) and when she can’t, she finally decides to do something about it, heading to the Kurosaki residence personally.

After dinner in Rukia’s room, ichigo and Rukia fall back into one another before another spell of conversation. The subject turns to Yoruichi and how utterly ridiculous everything has been. They swap stories about her, realizing how much fun they had with her. They gradually decide they “owe” her, and they plot about their "revenge,” with Rukia calling Rangiku to try and enlist her help.

Day 8: The blizzard is finally on track to lift enough for flight operations to resume in the afternoon. However, Yoruichi’s flight crew has no intention of leaving just yet. Rangiku has already reported up the chain of command that Yoruichi and Izuru are too ill to fly, and their passengers have already been reassigned to other flights—not that either knows. She goes to personally “distract” Izuru—she’s never found him unattractive, and it’s a perfect opportunity to once more try and get rid of that damn mustache of his.

Ichigo and Rukia, meanwhile, turn up at Yoruichi’s suite, surprising her just as she’s about to leave in her flight uniform. They guide her back inside, with just a bit of gentle manhandling, while Ichigo explains they’re not going anywhere. Yoruichi quickly figures out what’s going on and doesn’t put up too much of a struggle. Ichigo and Rukia really intend to show off and treat her, rather than teach her a lesson, but they also want to lead and have it to be something she’ll never forget. Having remembered her initial offer, they make her watch them before freeing her to play with them too. They spend the whole day together, celebrating each other.

Kūkaku, meanwhile, has dragooned Isshin into admitting to Karin and Yuzu that the Kurosaki are really a branch of the Shiba. Having stayed overnight with them at their request, she begins formally reengaging the Shiba’s assets as the leader of the family. One of her first decisions is to shift management of some of the family’s assets to a different law firm: Prism. In so doing, she requests they be handled by her cousin: Ichigo. She then sets about wiping out Karin and Yuzu’s student loan debt, assigning aside resources to do the same for Ichigo, and beginning to create reasonable endowments for them, before scheduling another date with Byakuya.

News quickly reaches the senior partners of the sudden addition of several billions of dollars of assets to Prism’s portfolio, and the attendant discovery that one of their newer employees is in fact a Shiba. Although Ichigo has essentially been excused from work due to the blizzard, they’re all surprised that no one can reach him. Regardless, they immediately set about arranging a promotion for him to fulfill Kūkaku’s request. The opportunity simply can’t be passed up.

Day 9: Ichigo and Rukia wake with Yoruichi and have breakfast. Ichigo is already scheduled to return to Murakumo since there’s no point in continuing on to his original destination (someone else was dispatched in his place), as are Yoruichi’s air crew for the same reason. They’re all taking the same flight back.

Ichigo finally turns his cell phone back on to discover a deluge of text messages and voice-mails regarding his heritage and promotion from his family and work. Yoruichi and Rukia look on with different degrees of surprise, before calling Kūkaku and Byakuya, respectively. Yoruichi gossips some, though she doesn’t reveal what happened the prior day; Byakuya asks Rukia about her involvement with Ichigo, which Rukia affirms. Neither set of parties knows the other are in the same room.

After the call ends, Byakuya and Kūkaku have a brief conversation regarding the events, during which Byakuya produces and approves a promotion request that Rukia had submitted to human resources, leaving it with one of his secretaries. They go out to lunch together.

Rukia and Ichigo eventually go their separate ways to get their things, meeting back up with Yoruichi at their gate. The flight home is routine and uneventful. They all part amicably at Murakumo’s terminal, with Ichigo and Rukia knowing they’ll see each other again soon. Yoruichi goes home to sleep for another age, only to find she can’t. She’s missing... something... and doesn’t want to admit to herself that it’s them. Lonely, she goes to Free Radical to seek Kisuke’s company, ultimately asking if she can sleep in his bed. His answer is always “Mi casa es su casa.”

Epilogue: A little over two weeks later, Ichigo and Rukia show up outside Yoruichi’s apartment together. She’s surprised to see them at first, as she’s been trying her best to move on (to no avail), only for her mood to darken once they reveal they feel differently and want her to join them on a proper vacation. They move as one on the issue, having had plenty of opportunity to discuss it.

For the first time in quite a long time, Yoruichi finds herself emotionally compromised, only to in turn be stunned by the sincerity of their offer. Ichigo and Rukia calm her through touch and offer to stay the night, and Yoruichi happily agrees.

PROMOTIONAL SNIPPET (The Beginning)

Airports exist as liminal spaces—the constant transience of their occupants leaves echoes in the fabric of their reality. That held especially true in the quiet gloom of a mid-February twilight at Calgary International Airport, with a blizzard howling down from the north and cancelling all flights in and out. The floor to ceiling windows that normally offered a view of the mountains and the international gates only showed featureless gray.

Yoruichi had already clocked out. They’d received their final forecast for the evening—the low pressure system was nearly stationary, projections estimated several feet of snow by morning, and wind chill was going to go well below zero—and the front was expected to pound the area for several days. It was only going to disperse when a Chinook wind swept in from the west to knock it out. She, her crew, their passengers, and many others besides, were all grounded, and would be for the foreseeable future.

They were fortunate that the airport had recently finished a massive upgrade program. The terminal had been radically expanded to accommodate international traffic and more besides, which was the entire reason her flight was there. But the airport had also gained several in-terminal hotels and other amenities, which was good, because based on the reports, even travel as far as the city proper would be impossible. Everyone stuck had been billeted rooms—she'd gotten a suite.

Yoruichi sighed and turned away from the gray-out. It wouldn't be long until sundown.

Being stuck on the ground for so long was going to make her tetchy—she’d never liked being tethered. She mused over joining the rest of her crew for a drink in one of the lounges, but decided to instead act on a thought she'd been harboring. She was going to seek out one crewmember in particular—one she knew wouldn’t have joined the others in their giddy celebration.

Rukia would have found somewhere to be alone.

Yoruichi had captained flights for Kuchiki International—so big it didn't have to advertise it was an airline, because everyone already knew—for three years, ever since leaving the Navy. Despite that, her current crew was relatively new to her other than her co-pilot, Kira, and one of the stewardesses, Rangiku—they'd only been together for six flights.

She'd become acquainted with them as usual, but Rukia had always stuck out to her—not least because Yoruichi knew who she was. Rukia tried to keep quiet about the fact she was a Kuchiki, often claiming she simply happened to share the last name, but Yoruichi knew better.

She hadn't hung out with Byakuya during her last trip home, a decade ago—he'd already set off on his agenda of world conquest—and hadn't really talked to anyone but Kūkaku while she was there, but she'd kept in touch with the same. She'd also gotten letters from Yūshirō annoyingly often. Between the two, she knew Byakuya had adopted a sister under mysterious circumstances, one whom looked like him, and whom Kaien had given his life to save from a frozen lake. It didn't take a genius to piece together that was Rukia.

That fact alone made her intriguing—she was Byakuya's sister, and Yoruichi and Byakuya had always had an interesting relationship. Although he was two years her senior, she'd loved teasing him since their first meeting so long ago. What sort of interactions might she have with his sister?

But it was also nothing so hypothetical.

Put simply, Rukia was stunning in a refined way, and her beauty and elegance were nothing like skin-deep. Yoruichi hadn't had much opportunity to talk with Rukia one-on-one, but she'd seen her in groups and knew how the rest of the crew treated her. Rukia was by turns tough and compassionate, level-headed and whimsical, and always smart, even if she tended to be quiet about it. She had an attitude, but not an attitude problem.

To Yoruichi, Rukia seemed both pretty and lively. She imagined Rukia was fun in other ways too, and she'd had never been one to walk away from fun if she could help it. Since they had at least a few days to kill, she saw no harm in making a pitch, and that was exactly what she intended to do.

She made her way out of the concourse toward the terminal proper.

Rukia would probably be somewhere high up, away from the bustle of the nearest bars and lounges—she seemed to like heights. Yoruichi began considering places to check as she made her way toward the hotel they'd been booked into. Stopping there would give her a chance to change into something more comfortable, and Rukia was likely at its observation lounge too.

-―-

Ichigo was in a different hotel, sitting windowside at its observation lounge. His chin was cupped in one hand, and he idly swirled a cocktail glass around with the other. He considered another building, dim and gray through the snowfall. He knew Rukia was there because he'd started his evening there, only to have spotted her sitting alone at the bar when he'd walked in. He'd seen her far too many times to ever mistake her for anyone else, from any angle, and he'd immediately left.

With a sigh, he shut his eyes and downed the rest of his Blood and Sand. You're pathetic, he thought.

Ichigo had encountered her the very first time he'd boarded a flight for his law firm. He'd instantly been captured by her eyes, but the extent of their interaction had been asking her for a Coke. He'd noted her nametag: Rukia.

They'd kept bumping into one another after that. He didn't run into her on every flight, but it happened often enough that he noticed. She never seemed to remember him, but he wasn't so sure that was the case, given his hair. At any rate, they'd never had a chance to really talk—and he wanted to talk to her for some reason.

His firm wasn't unfamiliar with Kuchiki International—which was why all their flights were chartered through them—so he knew some people who knew some people. He'd pulled a few strings and used a few details to find out some things about her. Her full name was Rukia Kuchiki. It didn't take a genius to figure out she was related to the CEO. Her routes usually brought her back to Murakumo, which was both Kuchiki International's hub city and where he lived too. It wasn't surprising they ran into each other so frequently.

It wasn't that Ichigo hadn't tried putting her out of mind, but he couldn't. He hadn't really wanted to cyberstalk her or something, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him. He'd poked around a little more and found her Facebook and Instagram rather easily. She was a year older than him. She had a strange love of rabbits, but otherwise seemed pretty normal and down-to-earth. She looked great in winter wear, and... everything really. She was single.

And now he was stuck in an international airport with her for god knows how long, and yet he couldn't even approach her at a bar. This was the perfect opportunity. What was it all for if he didn't have the nerve?

He considered the building across the way again for a long time, then sighed and called a waiter over for another cocktail.

PROMOTIONAL SNIPPET (The Ending)

Yoruichi turned and crossed her arms under her chest. "What's that got to do with me?" Her voice was strained.

Ichigo blinked as he saw the set of her shoulders and how tightly she was squeezing her biceps. Tension radiated off her.

Rukia noticed the same and looked to Ichigo before her expression became sympathetic. She was the one to start forward first.

He followed in her wake.

Rukia walked around in front of Yoruichi and brought her hands up to clasp the back of hers. "Hey..."

Yoruichi only met her gaze for a moment, then looked decisively to one side.

Ichigo lightly grasped her sides at the waist, standing behind her. "We miss you." It was a plain and unornamented truth.

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed and she hunched up her shoulders as if wracked by a chill. "Don't be ridiculous."

Rukia reached up to cup Yoruichi’s cheeks, finding the woman’s skin warmed her hands like the sun. She gently tried to turn her head so they’d face each other again. "Who's being ridiculous?"

Yoruichi frowned and set her expression hard, focusing intently on some point off to the side. When she spoke her voice carried the gravitas of authority: “What the fuck are you doing?”

Rukia blinked and automatically drew her hands back in confusion.

Ichigo likewise released her as he felt her go rigid.

Yoruichi closed her eyes. “I can understand wanting to pay me back, but you did that already! Do you think I was bullshitting you?! You’re perfect for each other! Hell, it’s like you were designed to be together! You’re like yin and yang, black and white! Why are you trying to ruin it, you idiots?!”

Ichigo and Rukia found each other before glancing at Yoruichi and looking to either side.

“Do you think I’m stupid?” Yoruichi’s tone was low, but in the quiet that had descended over the room it was more than loud enough.

The attention of the couple was instantly upon her again.

Yoruichi clamped her hands around her upper arms tighter yet, letting out a brief, harsh laugh. Her voice grew quieter still. “Do you think I’m stupid enough to believe that there’s any place for me in that kind of thing...?”

A moment passed. Then another.

Rukia bit her lip and looked to Ichigo.

He met her gaze. A decision flickered between them and he turned his attention to Yoruichi, delicately taking hold of her waist again.

She blinked her eyes open in surprise only to freeze as Rukia’s hands returned to her cheeks.

Rukia once more tried to turn Yoruichi’s head—succeeding given her preoccupation—and studied her intently. Yoruichi’s voice had been steady but there was no mistaking the gleam at the outer corners of her eyes. She carefully brought her thumbs up to wipe the tears away.

Yoruichi’s eyes widened in response and she was suddenly aware of her heartbeat hammering in her ears. She looked up, needing to focus on anything but the concern Rukia was radiating for her. "I just wanted you to be happy," she whispered. There was no space for her in that picture. No room.

Ichigo moved closer so he was lightly pressed to her back, and brought his forehead down to rest against the top of her head, burying his nose against the start of her ponytail. The citrus scent of her hair put him at ease and his arms naturally slid around her waist. "Then come with us."

She shivered at the contact but didn't try to pull away.

Rukia released Yoruichi's hands and slid her arms around her neck, hugging her and pushing her back against Ichigo. The sudden rush of the aromas that so defined Yoruichi filled her thoughts and she found herself relaxing at it. "Please?"

Yoruichi shut her eyes. "But..."

"We'd like you to be there," Ichigo insisted.

"And we know you'd like it too," Rukia whispered.

Yoruichi clenched her jaw before dropping her chin so she leaned against Rukia, unfolding her arms. She got one hand around to the back of Rukia's head and brought the other up onto the back of Ichigo's.

They both pressed closer to her and started to brush at her reassuringly.

A faint shudder once again rippled through Yoruichi; she only slowly relaxed.

The three of them stood together for quite a long time before Rukia turned her head to consider the inside of the apartment. There was a couch not too far away. She looked back toward Yoruichi and Ichigo. How distraught their mentor was had come as a surprise—if she'd known, she’d never have let them wait even as little as they had. She took Yoruichi’s wrist and started to gently tug her toward the couch.

Yoruichi blinked her eyes open, looking to Rukia uncertainly.

Ichigo noticed and let her go, taking her other wrist and moving around to stand beside Rukia. They shared a look and he likewise beckoned Yoruichi forward.

After looking between them, Yoruichi followed, letting them guide her to her couch.

Ichigo sat first, Rukia getting next to him, and the two of them drew Yoruichi down onto their shared lap space, taking her into an embrace.

Yoruichi sank into the comfort of them. She… she’d missed them—so much.

Rukia turned and lowered her head, softly kissing at Yoruichi’s neck to comfort her.

Ichigo did the same, getting his face below her ponytail to plant little smooches along the back of her neck.

Yoruichi clenched her jaw again, this time to keep from vocalizing. She knew the difference between reassurance and sensuality well enough—especially with them—but being with them in such a close and intimate fashion again stirred her soul. Sharing space and touch with them felt like… like finally coming home.

Ichigo gave her the lightest nip and his eyes flickered open to find Rukia’s.

She glanced at him and one of her hands brushed across his in the course of slowly roving over Yoruichi’s sides. She soon shut her eyes and busied herself at where the woman’s neck met her jawline.

He brought his lips to Yoruichi’s ear. “We can stay the night.”

Yoruichi pushed her chin down against Rukia’s hair and didn’t hesitate to say “Yes.”

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

The sky’s the limit. I envisioned they’d go on a tropical vacation next, and eventually get a place and all move in together. There are some things already set afterwards, but there’s another post about that.

[autoaccidentlawyersblogs]

Palm Desert Experienced Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers

The Baum Law Firm is a reputable leading personal injury law firm that has millions recovered for all accidents, injuries & wrongful death claims. We provide responsive representation for accident and injury victims throughout Cathedral City, Desert Host Springs, El Centro, Indio, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Thousand Palms and all surrounding cities. We specialize in all kinds of accidents, injury claims and wrongful death cases and we also offer you the best chance of recovering settlement with the perfect compensation. No matter which types of cases you have, our Car Accident Lawyers and Palm Desert Personal Injury Attorneys are prepared to help you. We handle a comprehensive range of cases involving: bus accidents, car accidents, car crashes, children's injuries, dog bites/dog attacks, intentional injuries, premises liability, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death and all vehicle accidents and personal injuries.

If you are looking for a proficient and successful Dog Bite Lawyers and Accident Attorney in Palm Desert CA and all surrounding cities, your search ends here. Our Palm Desert Auto Accident Attorneys at The Baum Law Firm are ready to help you back on the track after a serious accident. If you are facing one of the most complicated experiences of your life, you need reliable guidance based on an understanding of your unique condition. The accident lawyers at The Baum Law Firm are ready to listen to your concerns and offer a free evaluation of all types of accidents, injuries and wrongful death claims.

If you have been involved in a car accident and personal injury claim, The Baum Law Firm can help. After more than 55 years of experience, over ten of millions clients served, and over $2 billion in compensation recovered, we know exactly how to approach all kinds of car accident, personal injury and wrongful death cases. We will take your case seriously and fight rapidly for the best results.

 The Baum Law Firm, we rely that all victims should have equal access to the justice system, regardless of income. That’s why we fee nothing unless we win your case. Call us at 760 325 2681 to speak with highly trained and qualified Personal Injury Attorney & Car Accident Lawyer in Palm Desert CA about any personal injury or car accident claim. Or fill out the form below and our Client Manager will get in touch with you to plan a telephone counsel.

[andreopouloslaw-blog]

Andreopoulos Law Firm is a top-rated personal injury law firm based in Holiday, FL with satellite offices in Clearwater, Largo, and Palm Harbor, FL. We offer legal representation for all types of personal injury claims including car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, security negligence, product liability, slip, trip, and fall accidents, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. Andreopoulos Law Firm does not charge any fees for initial legal consultation on any type of personal injury case. We also do not charge any legal fees unless we negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company or obtain compensation through litigation. Andreopoulos Law Firm serves the following locations in Florida: Holiday, Clearwater, Dunedin, Largo, Lakeland, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tarpon Springs. Andreopoulos Law Firm, https://flinjury.com/

[donnadacresny]

Smyrna, GA – Employee Struck at Griffin Middle School

Smyrna, GA (October 22, 2019) – An employee of the Griffin Middle School was struck by a Cobb County man on King Springs Road and left with injuries on Wednesday.

Police claim that the man driving his pickup truck was backing out of a parking spot at the middle school. A school employee was directing traffic at the time, but the driver failed to obey him.

The victim put up his palms to attempt to get the driver to stop and also started giving him loud commands. The suspect drove his F-150 within 5 feet of the school worker and started to rev his engine. He then drove forward, which is when the school worker put his hands on top of the truck.

The suspect then drove forward and fully struck the employee, according to witnesses.

The man has since been charged with aggravated assault with a weapon. The investigation continues at this time.

Our thoughts are with the injured victim and his family in hopes of a full recovery.

Pedestrian Accidents in Georgia 

Between January and June 2017, approximately 92 pedestrians lost their lives and hundreds more were hospitalized due to serious pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians are some of the most susceptible parties to injuries on our roads, as they have no protection from harm. When a pedestrian is injured in an accident, they might wonder what options they have against a driver who was not looking out for their well-being. It is important that they seek the immediate help of a personal injury attorney in Georgia at this time.

Our attorneys at Kenneth S. Nugent, PC have protected the rights of many victims after serious and life-altering collisions. The injuries that result from pedestrian accidents tend to be quite catastrophic and expensive in nature. We want to ensure that you are able to move forward after an accident, especially when you are feeling lost and helpless. Please contact our experienced law firm at (888) 579-1790 for help you deserve.

Note: We have constructed this post using outside sources, including news bulletins and first-hand accounts from outside sources. The details concerning this accident have not been independently verified and so, if you have identified false information, please inform us immediately. We will adjust the post to reflect accurate content.

Disclaimer: At Kenneth S. Nugent, PC Attorneys at Law, we are always looking to improve the quality and safety of our state and have been saddened by the outcome of many accidents across Georgia. We hope to inform those in our community about these accidents in the hopes that they will work to avoid serious Georgia accidents in the future. These posts are not to be taken as a solicitation for business. The information within should never be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. We hope that all involved in these accidents will receive a speedy recovery. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.

The post Smyrna, GA – Employee Struck at Griffin Middle School appeared first on Georgia Accident Attorney Ken Nugent - Atlanta Personal Injury Law Firm.

source https://www.attorneykennugent.com/smyrna-ga-employee-struck-at-griffin-middle-school/ from Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. https://attorneykennugent1.blogspot.com/2019/10/smyrna-ga-employee-struck-at-griffin.html

[thebaumlawfirm]

The Baum Law Firm - Palm Springs personal injury law firm

The Baum Law Firm is a reputable legal practice known for its expertise in personal injury law. With a strong commitment to client advocacy, they provide skilled representation for various cases, including car accidents, and wrongful death. Their team of experienced attorneys strives to secure fair compensation for their client's injuries and losses. Recognized for their dedication and results-driven approach, The Baum Law Firm has earned the trust and respect of clients throughout the years.

Our Practice Areas include Car Accidents, motorbike accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, Dog Bite lawyers, and all types of injury and accident cases. We have recovered tens of millions for injury and accident victims in Southern California. Contact us now at (760) 325-2681 or visit our website www.baumlawfirm.com for free consolation.

[palmdesertaccidentattorney00]

Understanding Your Rights: A Palm Springs Attorney Can Help After a Car Accident

Getting into a car accident can be a frightening and traumatic experience. In addition to any physical injuries you may sustain, there can also be emotional and financial impacts. If you have been involved in a car accident in the Palm Springs area, it is important to understand your rights and seek help from a trusted attorney.

At Palm Desert Car Accident Attorneys, we specialize in helping clients who have been involved in car accidents navigate the legal process. Our teams of dedicated attorneys have extensive experience in handling car accident cases and are committed to fighting for the rights of our clients.

One of the key reasons to seek the help of an Accident And Injury Attorney in Palm Springs is to ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to. In the aftermath of a car accident, you may incur medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. It is important to have an experienced attorney on your side to accurately assess the value of your claim and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.

In addition to financial compensation, an attorney can also help protect your legal rights. Insurance companies may try to minimize your claim or deny it altogether. Having an attorney to represent you can help ensure that your rights are protected and that you are not taken advantage of in the claims process.

As experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Desert Hot Springs, we understand that each car accident case is unique. Our team takes the time to listen to your story, gather evidence, and build a strong case on your behalf. We will work tirelessly to achieve the best outcome for your case, whether through negotiation or in the courtroom.

At Palm Desert Car Accident Attorneys, we are dedicated to helping our clients get the justice they deserve. Our Accident Injury Law Firm In DC Palm Desert has a successful track record of achieving favorable outcomes for our clients. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don't pay any fees unless we win your case.

Don't let a car accident derail your life. Contact us today at (760) 325-2681 to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. We will handle the legal process so that you can focus on your recovery. Let us fight for your rights and seek the compensation you deserve. Visit us at:- www.palmdesertaccident.com!

[freeminimaps]

Truck Accident Attorneys

Email Id :- baumlawfirm@msn.com Phone :- (760) 325 2681 Website :- https://palmdesertaccident.com/

  The Baum Law Firm is the ideal place when it comes to finding a professional and experienced Truck Accident Attorneys throughout Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Indio, Thousand Palms, Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs and all Desert Cities.

Truck Accident Attorneys was originally published on Business directory and remarkable travel blog!