Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, created by Tite Kubo

I became inspired to write this story of fanfiction after reading chapters 529,... or is it 530?... if you are not up to date with the latest chapters as of 530, then you are in for a surprise. If you are up to date on the latest chapters, that's cool too, you'll know where I'm headed with my story

other inspirational items that helped me write this are the doujinshi of "17 blank months" that I saw on a video, featuring songs: "Watch over me" by TFK, "Beautiful" by Apocaliptica and "Tiny heart" by Flyleaf

other song: "A thousand years" by Christina Perri

I haven't written any fanfiction in a while, I hope plenty of people like this

The Interview

Chapter 1

Marriage?

**Monday evening**

Darkness swallowed the evening sky, allowing the stars to peek through a veil of clouds.

A young man returned his sights on the road home ahead of him. His training for the day was done with an hour ago and he needed to rest. His body ached, but he learned to take it a little easier ever since he understood how important his position was in the, hopefully not too soon, future. He needs to become strong and take care of himself. The way home was short so he took it slow, taking in the night air.

*beep beep*... *beep beep*...
"huh?"
He reached into his jacket pocked, pulling out a phone he recently acquired from the gotei, viewing the caller id.
He touched the green button.
"uh... Good evening?" he greeted, not sure of the time difference.
"Hi Ichigo! How was training today?" asked the caller
"oh, hey there, Rukia. Training was hard, but good. No pain no gain. I'm just walking home now from Urahara's shoten"
"And you can still walk? No pain, no gain, you say."
"hey. I pushed myself, but I have been setting limits so I don't kill myself in the process."
"...eh? Is this really Ichigo? That sounds like something a mature person would say?"
The last while at home has truly been eye opening for him, only just understanding where he was coming from and where he will most likely be heading
"... oh, I've done some maturing in the past week."
The conversation paused, neither being in a rush to continue. He kept the phone by his ear, listening to the light shuffling from the other end of the line being handled. The past few days, phone calls are the closest he's been to his friend. He enjoys the comfort of peace they have but starts to sense a little tension on the other's part.
"Hey, you doin okay? How are things on your end?"
"Oh Terrific! Renji and Nii-sama are training every day really hard. We've been out in the fields today working on stronger Demon arts-"
"Rukia"
"-eh?"
"How have you been, is everything okay?
She paused
"What happened?"
"*sigh*... It's...nothing, never mind me"
He was starting to get irritated
"IT is not nothing. Obviously there is something bothering you. Now spill. It'll be good to at least get it off your chest"
"it's. ... The clan elders..."
Silence fell again, but he kept his patience. She started to speak, he will let her finish
"... They're arranging interviews..."
"What, are they opening to hire?"
"NO! They're ma-... marriage interviews"
"Oh? Who's tying the knot?"
"Ichigo!"
"what?"
"...it's for m-me"
"...you're kidding..."
"I wish I was. The lost nobility of Shiba are looking to rise again. The elders are setting an interview on saturday for me."
He paused '... Shiba?' he winced as he thought
"...Rukia..."
"The only man left in the Shiba clan is Ganju... GANJU! "
"eirk..."
"I tried to tell them I wasn't interested, but they said that it would be rude and disrespectful to decline before an interview...Ichigo... I'm worried...What would happen if I shame the elders... what if I cave in?"
He didn't know what to say
"...would... Could you, maybe, audience... Having you around might keep me at ease "
"... y-yeah... I'll be there...I'll always be there for you."
This was going to be hard. He was going to have witness Rukia be pressured into a marriage. And if not this one, to some other noble she didn't know.
"who ever it is you end up with... I hope he loves you and makes you happy."
"Ichigo..."
He held his breath, feeling his chest tightening.
"who ever he is... I hope he's as caring as you"
His chest got even tighter.
" ... I hope he's strong, willing and able to keep you safe"
He can almost hear he blush over the phone
"I hope I'll find him attractive..."
"oh, and who would you say would be a man you could be attracted to, if not Ganju?"
"erk, please... I don't know... "
And he waited a little
"...soft hair, ...I think i would like it if he had soft hair... It would contrace his strength, balance his personality"

Upon her words, he passed his fingers through his dirty hair, wondering if his hair was considered soft, not wondering why he questioned himself this.

His steps were near ending as he approached his front door.

"...-noon"
"huh? What?"
"the interview is in the after noon. You sure I wouldn't be taking you away from anything important?"
"no, I can't think of anything more important. I promise, I'll be there."
"...thank you..."
The front door swung open before he could touch the knob
"ICHIGO! Hurry in, we have big news to discuss!" his stubbly faced father exclaimed
"gotta go, I'll see you then" he finished quickly, hanging up.
"DAD! I was on the phone, did you have to shout?" he asked as he tucked back his phone
"but this is BIG!" his father pouted
Ichigo took off his shoes after closing the door behind him.
He followed his father to the kitchen.
"The Shiba clan is starting marriage int-"
"interviews? ...yeah, kinda heard about that... I'm sitting in at one of their interviews on Saturday"
"You know? ...You are?... Well, in any case, Kukaku needs you at the Shiba estate, she has important matters to discuss with you. There are a lot of preparations to go over, you absolutely need to be there."
"wait, What?"
"You'll be going to the Kuchiki interview with Ganju"
"but I'm going for Rukia"
"Does it matter who you go with? The Shibas will get you all cleaned up. You can't just show up in shinigami uniform to this kind of thing"
"... I guess you're right about that one"
"Excellent! With all there is to do, I want you to head out tomorrow morning. Yoruichi will accompany you from Urahara's senkaimon"
The boy turned away, looking slightly defeated
"...yeah, ...sure" he last replied, climbing up the stairs to his room for much needed rest

... "I was expecting more of a fight from him, ...does he really get what's going on?" the older man wondered