A/N: This is AU. The characters may be OOC. Original characters in the story. Mature subject matter. Discretion is advised. I apologize in advance for any grammar/ spelling errors.
Pairing(s): Complex. Please read to find out.

' ' denotes thoughts by the character.
Italics denotes dreaming/flashback

Disclaimer: Bleach concept and characters belong to Kubo Tite. Original characters and story is mine. This is for pure entertainment and no money is made from this..

Chapter 1

The yellow-orange and red hues of the setting sun created the perfect back drop for their outdoor ceremony. Looking into the sparkling green eyes of her beloved, she knew this was it; this was forever and she couldn't be more content with life.

"Rukia," he lovingly spoke her name as one hand cupped her cheek before leaning in to capture her lips in a passionate kiss.

Her breathe was taken away by the sheer burning desire that resonated from just the kiss. Her knees began to buckle as a shiver shot down her spine. Never has she felt this much love and intensity of emotions just from kissing her beloved.

Then the loud sounds of clapping hands ignited around them forcing their lips to part. Gazing loving back her he told her in a voice only she would hear, "There's more where that came from. I promise you, tonight you'll be mine." With one linger look and smile that make her swoon; he turned to face their guests as he offered her his right arm.

Blushing like the bride that she is, she hooked her arm left arm with his just as they heard the officiate proclaim, "Ladies and gentlemen I present to you Mr. and Mrs.. Ukitake Jūshirō.

As more applause and the orchestra began to play soft, they began walking down the white runner with red rose petals strewn along the way. She couldn't contain her joy at finally having all her dreams come true at this moment.

They made it to the awaiting limousine that was ready to usher them to the reception venue. Once inside, her husband pulled her into his arms and French kissed her. Her emotions ran high, her body warm and tingly, and at this very moment in his arms, all she wants to do was get rid of the last barriers that keep them from becoming one. With that thought in mind, her hands gently begin unbuttoning his tuxedo jacket.

Catching her thoughts as her hands did the talking, he took one of his hands and begins to explore her upper chest until finally he cupped one of her breast loving through her silk wedding dress. He broke away from her for the much needed air before returning to give her butterfly kisses along her jaw, down her neck, and her exposed shoulders from her strapless gown until he reached just above the dress line hat covered her breasts.

She couldn't help but moan in pleasure as his lips burned her skin from everywhere he touched. Her fingers had already undid his jacket, vest and she only had barely gotten four buttons on his shirt unbuttoned when his tongue brushed across a sensitive spot on her neck sending a shiver down her back causing her to moan a bit more vocally this time.

She heard him chuckle against her moist skin and repeated the action again teasing her. She could feel his hand slowly pulling down the zipper at the back of the dress freeing her of her confinement. As soon as the dress loosen enough to expose her breast, her husband cupped her one exposed breast and brought his mouth to suck, nip and tongue whip her areola and nub until it was no longer soft. His free hand pushes the gown lower as his hands caressed her skin moving…

Buzz. Buzz.

The phone vibrated in her handbag startling her out of her daydream. Slightly disoriented and a bit flustered from the interruption, she tried to return back to reality. Taking a shaky breathe, she opened her handbag and retrieves her phone to look at the caller ID. Grinning like a kid in a candy store, she hit the "talk" button and greeted the caller.

"Konnichiwa Ukitake-san," she happily said to the phone trying to convey the radiant sunshine that he brings to her life.

Chuckling a bit at how cute she sounded, he responded in kind, "Konnichiwa Rukia-san. You seem very happy today."

She giggles like the fan girl she is when it comes to anything has to do with Ukitake Jūshirō. "Yes…yes I am, now that I get the pleasure of speaking with you," answering honestly.

He chuckles at her honesty before inquiring, "Was something wrong or did I catch you at a bad time?"

"N-no…no. Nothing's wrong. I was just studying for my upcoming test on differential equations. I'm glad for the interruption since I was going to take a break anyways," telling him a little white lie would be better than admitting that she had been daydreaming of him and what they were about to do in her fantasy. She blushed as she recalled her dream. She was glad he couldn't see her right now through her phone.

"I see," he replied and then let out a soft sigh. "Rukia, I'm in a slight bind right now and I called you to ask you for a favor," he told her waiting for a response.

"Anything, what is it?" she asked.

He wasn't one to beat around the bush and decided to just tell her straight out. "I need to attend this upcoming charity event in three days. And I have no way of getting out of much to my chagrin," he pauses briefly in letting out a bitter laugh before he continued. "And, I rather have you accompanying me instead of having "a date" that my family arranges for me. I find these things mundane and superficial. I think I would enjoy it more if you were there. That way, at least I will be with someone who I am familiar with and I can actually enjoy spending time with," he said the last statement with a happier note.

Trying to contain her excitement, she was thrilled beyond belief at being asked to accompany him to one of the exclusive social functions of the year with Ukitake Jūshirō. It was a dream come true for Rukia; at least one of her many dreams with him. "YES! I'd love to go with you," she exclaimed as her eyes sparkles with stars.

He couldn't help but fully laugh at her barely contained excitement. Ever since he has known her since she was 11 years old, when she felt found something that made her happy, she was like any kid with a new toy. "Very well, I will call you the day of the event which is in three days letting you know when I will be coming by to take you to the event," he said to her.

"Sounds good to me. I can't wait!" she told him.

Laughing at her enthusiasm, he said to her, "Okay. I have to go now. I'll talk to you later. Thank you for helping me out."

"Alright, later then and no thanks necessary," she told him before saying, "Bye!" Of course she wanted to add these words, "It's our first date after all, and why wouldn't I help the one I love." But she knew she couldn't confess that to him; not yet.

"Bye Rukia-san," he responded before disconnecting the call.

Staring at her cell phone, she couldn't help letting out a delightful glee. She was beyond happy and started to dream about the night of the charity event. She couldn't help make the comparison of hooking her arm through his as they walked in together or how beautiful they would look dressing formally in his tux and her in her gown standing side by side. She let out a content sigh as she pictured them together before realizing there was just one problem.

'Shit! I don't have a dress to wear to such an event; much less a formal gown,' she told herself as she sigh, feeling a bit down. 'I guess I will have to go shopping, but…,' she let out a deep sigh in defeat at her thoughts continue, 'I can't afford to be spending frivolously.'

For a 20 years old college student who was majoring in Finance, Kita Rukia knew very well just how much money she had to her name. She isn't by any means poor; it was just that her family were middle class white collar workers. Her father, Kita Yori, is an asset manager with Mizuho Bank. Her mother, Kita Sayuri, is a manga editor for Shueisha Inc. And her older sister, Kita Hisana, is currently serving out her time in a mental hospital for attempting to kill her. Rukia's smile fades as she remembers all the times Hisana attempted to get rid of her.

The first time, she was only 8 years old. It was January 16; just 2 days after her birthday and their parents took them to Nagano. Rukia had told her parents that she wanted to play in the snow and build a snow bunny for a snowman. She had seen a foreign animation film called, "Frosty the Snowman" at her friend's home and came back telling her parents that was what she wanted for her birthday.

She recalled making a snowman with her parents and then a snow bunny that after several tries, they manage to find one that would hold up alongside the "frosty" snowman. She remembers how happy they were when it was done and took pictures to commemorate that day. To Rukia it was one of the happiest days of her 8 years old life. She went to sleep that night with a smile on her face.

She didn't recall when she was carried out and buried in the snow in her pajamas not too far away from the ryokan they were staying for the night. She didn't know how long she was out there. She only remembers waking up in a local hospital some days later. She was told by her parents at that time that she was told she fell ill with pneumonia.

However, Rukia was lucky that one of the local kids was playing nearby, tripped over her and that's when one of the boys caught sight of her feet. Everyone in that small town on the outskirts of Nagano was shocked and appalled that such a thing would happen to such a young girl.

No one knew at that time how she ended up out there; Hisana being older than her by 8 years claimed that she was asleep and didn't hear anything. With no evidence of a struggle or anything out of the ordinary, the parents never suspected Hisana. No one even saw Rukia being carried out of the ryokan. If only the snow had not covered Hisana's footprints, they might have known then just how much Hisana hated Rukia with all her soul.

Hisana had always played the dutiful sister in front of her family and friends, no one ever suspected her of hating Rukia to the point she made so many attempts to get rid of her. Years later, with Hisana's fourth attempt to kill her, did the truth finally surfaced.

The second attempt on her life came during the fall before she turned 11 years old; they were walking home from cram school late in the evening, around 9:30. Rukia had been tired from school, cram school and then studying late into the night. Rukia was so sleepy that she couldn't keep her eyes open as she walked besides her sister. Hisana was texting on her phone and didn't pay much attention to her.

They paused at a secluded crosswalk after exiting the train station. They had walked several blocks away and were waiting to cross the four lane street. Rukia leaned on the light pole since she was way too exhausted to hold her body up herself. Rukia remembers closing her eyes for a moment. She didn't remember falling into the street and a motorbike hit her going about 70 km/hr. Hisana said that she didn't see Rukia fall into the street until she heard the motorbike screech as it hit Rukia. Hisana apologize to her parents for neglecting Rukia because she was on the phone chatting with her friend. Since it was an accident, no suspicion was thrown on Hisana.

The third incident happened the following summer. Hisana was spending a week during her summer vacation at a beach resort only 4 hours from Tokyo with her friends as her high school graduation gift from their parents. Being that Rukia has always stuck to Hisana like glue since she was a kid; she begged and begged Hisana to allow her to come along with her. Hisana only wanted to spend her finally summer with her high school friends before heading off to college. She did not expect her younger sister to tag along when her parents intervened and asked Hisana to kindly consider bring Rukia with her on her trip.

She was 12 years old and still tagging behind, faithfully following her sister. Rukia didn't realize at that time that Hisana's hate for her was coming to a head. She didn't suspect that Hisana of giving her too much alcohol that she got deathly ill from alcohol poisoning.

She remembers being give Chu-Hi to that Hisana and her friends kept purchasing in the convenience stores or from the vending machines. Rukia thought it was a soft drink since it was sweet and carbonated drink that they all drank throughout their entire stay. It came in a variety of flavors; yuzu, lime, grapefruit, peach, apple, grape, cream soda, strawberry and kiwi. She didn't realize one can of Chu-Hi contains up to 9% (18 proof) of alcohol.

She had never experience being drunk so she didn't know the difference between being drunk or throwing up because of bad food poisoning which is what Hisana told her she had. By the time they returned home, Rukia was very sick and upon taking her to the hospital, there was something wrong with her liver.

Their parents were mad at Hisana for being irresponsible and nearly damaging Rukia's liver. Hisana did have to take responsibility for Rukia's alcohol poisoning even if Hisana said she didn't force Rukia to drink it. She admitted to having it in the hotel room and when they were on the beach even if she had told Rukia not to drink it too often. But since the girls had bought so much of it, Rukia didn't know better or felt it was not necessary for her to go buy any other drinks since Hisana nor any of her friends got sick or drunk.

The fourth time was when Rukia was 14 years old. Their parents were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary so they went on a two weeks trip overseas traveling across Europe leaving Rukia alone. Her sister promised to come home every other day if not every day to check in on her.

One of those days when Hisana was visiting, she took Rukia into town. She remember Hisana who was now a working adult, she took Rukia out shopping in Shibuya. She was so happy that her sister was kind enough to buy her some nice clothes and shoes. She even had Rukia wear her new outfit out and then took her to a beauty salon for a makeover.

They were enjoying each other's company as they were walking around and got caught by some guys and pulled into a dark alleyway. They were accosted, toyed with, beaten and raped. At least that was what Rukia thought at the time. The guys held her down, taped her mouth and blind folder her as her brand new clothes were ripped opened, raped with a beer bottle over and over again. They tormented her relentlessly. Her cries of help never reached anyone's ears. Tears stained her face and matted her hair from the pain, torment and shame she felt. As she slowly blacked out, she faintly heard her sister's voice telling someone to finish her off by asphyxiation. She was losing conscious and barely had time to register the impact of such horrifying words as she blacked out.

After that, she did not know what happened between Hisana and those guys. She was later told that Hisana called for help after a while. She played the perfect victim and the mournful sister. The ambulance crew was able to resuscitate Rukia and brought her immediately to the nearest hospital. She was in a coma for weeks; they all had thought she was never going to wake up.

She was lucky she woke up in the hospital one day and she met the most angelic face she had ever seen. The handsome young man was interning at the hospital and he happened to come in to check her vitals since she had been in a coma for weeks. He had a smile that would make any female grow weak at the knees. Though she could tell he was young, he had a very unique color for his hair. It was white as snow and perfectly showcased his kind green eyes. She read his name tag to learn his name and it was the first meeting between her and Ukitake Jūshirō.

When the police came to question her about what had happened to her over a month ago, she didn't remember at first. She didn't even recall going shopping with her sister. And her memory may have never returned had her sister not tried one last attempt while she was in the hospital.

Rukia was still recovering from the physical damage as well as psychological damage. Hisana had somehow come in when Rukia was napping and injected into her I.V. drip, sodium thiopental, potassium chloride, and pancuronium bromide. These three are known as the "lethal injection" given to those who are sentenced to death and in some form or fashion, as euthanasia.

Someone up above must have been looking out for her, because Ukitake Jūshirō and a nurse happened to stopped in for check up and witnessed Hisana pulling the syringe out of the I.V. Hisana was caught red handed, but there wasn't time for Ukitake or the nurse to detain her. Hisana fled the scene in a panic leaving the bottles as evidence while Ukitake and the nurse rushed to save Rukia. The first thing he did was pulling the I.V. from her hand and worked frantically to save.

And save her he did. Rukia had never forgotten that she owed her life to him. He helped her recover both medically and emotionally by being doctor and a friend. She gradually saw him as more than a friend as she grew up.

As for Hisana, she finally was arrested thanks to Ukitake's and the nurse's statement and being eye witnesses. And of course the evidence left behind. Though the syringe was never found, it was pretty much a closed case. Due to medical reasons, Rukia didn't have to go and face Hisana in court, their parents did. The whole incident literally tore the family apart for years. Her parents are still trying to heal the wounds.

Hisana's attorney pled that she was mentally ill. For Hisana truly believe that Rukia was the devil incarnate and would kill innocent people if she is left alive. After many psychological testing and evaluations, the court granted her plea of insanity and forced her to serve 20 years in a mental institution.

She didn't realize tears where now streaming down her face at the pain of those memories. She loved her sister dearly and to this day, she never had to chance to ask Hisana why she hated her so much. Or what she had have done to make Hisana love her. There was a lot of "what ifs" in her mind. Her weekly therapist advises her to no longer live in the past but in the present and for her future.

Still, no matter how she looked at it, Hisana was and still is her sister. She voiced many times that she wanted to see Hisana and talk with her. But her therapist was against that saying it would only cause Rukia more pain knowing she cannot change the past to make the situation any different. Plus, she was forbidden to see her or visit Hisana by her parents. They told her it was best this way for both of them to heal.

Drying her eyes with the back of her hands, she thought of Ukitake and how he's been in her life every since she woke up in the hospital the last time she was there. And how he fits into her life at times as a doctor, a stand in big brother for the sister she lost and a friend. She knew her teenage crush had longed turned into something more mature; she fell in love with him and she could honestly now look back as it was "love at first sight."

Smiling and looking loving at her phone despite her tear stained face she said to no one in particular, "In three days, you'll see me for the woman that I have become and I'll make you fall in love with me."

Feeling a bit better, she gathers her study materials and shoves them into her school bag before heading off to find the perfect dress to make one Ukitake Jūshirō unable to see any other woman besides her.