Disclaimer: It is called *fan* fiction for a reason.

Also I apologize for the following line. I believe every author has to do it at least once.

xxx

It is a cold, wet, stormy night and a little girl is walking down an almost empty street, clutching at a bundle. The stares she is getting aren't very friendly so she clutches her precious cargo to her just a little bit tighter and walks slightly faster.

It is late and this is the seedier part of town. Hisana is alone, hungry and miserable but glad that her baby sister is quiet and not drawing attention. She can see a little diner with flickering a signboard and right now it looks like heaven to her exhausted eyes. She has some money; enough for a meal or two and a warm bottle of milk.

She breaks out in a sprint, her eagerness at the thought of warmth and food palpable when the unthinkable happens. The bright headlights of the oncoming vehicle which should have been enough of a warning are ignored in the quest for sustenance. But suddenly the world is too bright, too loud and she can barely make out the screech of tires and the honking of the horn. 'Please let Rukia be okay' is all she can think of as her entire life flashes before her eyes and the world goes black.

xxx

Hisana wakes up to warmth and aromas of delicious food and no pain so thinks that she's in heaven. All worries are temporarily relocated to the back of her mind where there is dust, cobwebs and general disrepair. Rukia who is usually a quiet child is crying so her older sister gets up to quieten her. This draws the attention of the beautiful, dark-skinned woman conversing with a dark-haired doctor and a blond man in a funny-looking hat.

"Ah, good, you are awake now," says the woman. "That was very reckless of you, running across the road like that. You're lucky that I braked just in time."

Hisana is cowed. She mutters an apology and asks to be shown her sister. "She's asleep." the doctor replies. "But I heard someone cry." Hisana is confused. "Your sister is not the only kid in the world who cries, girl" the woman says. "How long was I out for?" she queries, brow crinkling. "A good three hours I suppose." comes the reply."Where am I?" she asks. "Urahara's Orphanage." says the blond man. "I am Kisuke Urahara, this is Dr. Isshin Kurosaki and that is my lovely fiancée, Yoruichi Shihoin." Hisana is given a warm plate of food and she is told to dig in. "Don't mind us. We already had our dinner. Can you tell me your name and why you were running about in the street in the middle of the night with a baby?" the doctor asks and Hisana instantly likes him. He is one of the very few people who have talked to her in a tone that marks them as equals.

She tells the doctor their names and informs him of that their mother's death due to a recent illness. "Our father was an alcoholic. He beat me regularly so when Rukia was old enough, I took her and ran." she says quietly, not worried whether these people mean her any harm. She has endured worse and if they want to hurt her, they would have done so already.

Urahara whistles low. Yoruichi nods understandingly. "In any case, it is too late for you to be wandering about so late. You can stay here for the night." And that decides her fate, at least for the night.

She is led to the common room which looks much more cozy and hospitable than the sitting room-cum-office that they had been sitting in, with brightly, if a little crudely painted flowers along the walls and old, threadbare cushions. There are old-looking but extremely well-maintained toys scattered around and a few children playing with them. Rukia is fast asleep in a dark-haired boy's lap, obviously stuffed to the brim, judging from the serene expression on her face. A silver haired boy and a strawberry-blond girl are sitting in the far corner trying to calm a blond boy that looks to be about her sister's age or rather the girl is rocking the bawling child and the boy is making faces at him, making him cry harder. A wild-looking red haired boy and a little brown-haired girl around the same age as the crying child are dozing near the two older children. A strict older-looking girl is sitting and studying on the desk, while another is arguing with a blue-haired boy while a quite black-haired boy watches, occasionally commenting which seems to anger the other boy further. A quite girl her age is fiddling around with a junior science set. The scene looks inviting, like it has been taken from a story book and Hisana likes what she envisions in the future if the two of them are allowed to stay here. Urahara-san has assured her that they can and for the first time in years, Hisana feels truly, gloriously happy.

Just then, the bell rings shattering the serenity of the atmosphere and all the children, even the older girl, put their things away. The dark-haired boy picks up her sister, cradling her gently as if she is made of glass and brings her over. "Here" he says stiffly, holding her out and not making eye-contact. He looks to be around sixteen, much older than her twelve years, very handsome and reserved and he is blushing slightly as if unused to dealing with babies and their older sisters. "She's asleep" he adds unnecessarily. Hisana takes Rukia from him and smiles up to him. "Thank you," she says in that gentle manner that has been able to calm her sister during her biggest temper tantrums "Her name is Rukia and I am Hisana." she says. "I am Byakuya Kuchiki" he says gruffly, and in that very instant a new friendship is born.

xxx

A/n

I apologize if it offends. Absolutely no abuse of Wikipedia and the likes has taken place in the creation of this story.

This marks my first foray in to the world of chaptered fiction as a somewhat mature young adult. Be Kind.

Updates maybe sporadic. Don't hold your breath.