A/N: Hellooooo everyone! This is my first bleach fanfic featuring my two favorite pairings, ByakuyaXRukia. A little bit OC but for this fic, I'll be winging it a little *smirks*

I don't speak fluent English but I'm trying my best. YOSH! Let's get it on!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Bleach, and if I was I'll be ending up Byakuya and Rukia together :3

CHAPTER 1: Heart and princess of the Ukitake Clan

"There are two worlds that a person can access. One is the Human World and the other is a place called Soul Society. They are so parallel that shares the two sides of the coin. Living in Soul Society is much like living in the Human World but aside from it, People never felt hunger for hunger is never a problem and slow aging can be seen among citizens."

"WHOAAA! So that means people age in the human world sensei?", the little boy with dark blue hair asked his teacher with curiosity.

Underneath the beautiful trees that occupies the park of the Empire, a group of small children seated in front of a petite woman with skin as light as snow and hair as black as ebony. With her two large violet eyes, she looked at her pupils that shine in enthusiasm. Not far from where they are seated, the road is filled with people; merchants, shoppers, traders, passerby or people who just want to play pranks on others. Despite of the noise, the children are having fun listening to their teacher

"Hai! People living in the Human World ages a lot faster than we are", the beautiful woman answered.

"Thank goodness we live here", the little girl with red hair tied in a ponytail sighed in relief.

All of them laughed, bringing the children's laughter mixed with the soothing breeze that sways and plays with their hair. The weather is all in their favor. This is the first day of summer, people are in the mood to enjoy and have fun under the sun! However a tall body-fit man appeared at the back of the tree where the maiden is leaning. With his long crimson hair that styled in a large widow's peak and a maroon bandana that covers his tattoos on his forehead, the children squealed in delight when they saw the man approaches.

"Are you still having classes Rukia? Is it okay if I disturb you for a while?", asked the red-haired man.

"Oh.. It's okay Renji, were already dismissed", she answered with a smile.

"It's Renji-nii!"

"Renjiiiiiiiiiii~!"

The children stood up and walked towards him. They keep on tugging Renji's hakama, shrieking, "Let's play Renji-nii!" "Renjiiiiiii" "Let's play tug of war!" His lips curved in a grin. These children still have some energy eh, he thought. He patted each and every child's head and bent his knees to lower himself to their level.

"Sorry guys, I'm a bit hectic today. Some other time we'll play. Whaddya say?"

"Ehhh?!" the children replied in chorus. They pouted and smiled, "Okay!" They all waved to Rukia and Renji goodbye.

"What are you doing here Renji? Shouldn't you be on our duties? Are… you.. Ditching your work?", Rukia looked at Renji with her one eyebrow raised and a teasing look.

"Wh-WHAT? You midget! I didn't ditch my work! Tch!", He looked annoyed. Rukia laughed hard. Rukia stood up and walked beside Renji. In a couple of minutes, they reached their destination. The market place. Since it's already 4 o' clock in the afternoon, people keeps rushing in and out to buy goods for their dinner. From wet to dry goods, you can find them all here. They needed to buy things ahead of time because in a couple of minutes, she will be heading to her next part-time job.

When they arrived at the market, he spoke. "You have a guest Rukia, we need to go home early".

Rukia was taken aback; she was walking ahead from Renji when they arrived at the market, looking for fresh ingredients that she will be needing to prepare their dinner. She spun gracefully to look at Renji, "Me? A guest? What does he need from me?"

Renji only sighed in reply. He lives with the Ukitake Clan when Rukia was still little. Lost in the woods, Jushiro found this red-haired boy freezing one winter day. He and his wife took him as a son and a brother to Rukia. While Jushiro's wife was lying in her deathbed, she asked little Renji to take care of their family and his little sister. With is promise, he serves as a son, brother, protector and a bodyguard to both Jushiro and Rukia.

Rukia is clenching her fist in annoyance to their visitor, "THIS IS ALL HIS FAULT! BECAUSE OF HIM MY PLANS FOR THIS DAY IS TOTALLY RUINED! AN ABSOLUTE MESS!" She hold Renji on his shoulders and shake him violently, releasing her anger. "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO RENJI! WE DON'T HAVE INCOME TODAY! MY HARD-TO-FIND-WELL-PAYING-JOB IS ALSO GONE! TO THINK THAT I WANT TO REPAIR OUR HOUSE. ALL.. GONE.."

"Look at their house, they are noble but what kind of house is that? Not fitted for their name", she mocked. "WE'RE GOING TO BE MOCKED BY THAT LINE AGAIN! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! I HATE THAT GUEST FOREVER!"

Renji sighed again and hold Rukia on her back collar. "My.. my.. hold your horses Rukia". He moved closer to her and whispered, "If you're not going to stop, people will not consider you to take some jobs. You looked like a child that sulks because someone took your candy". And with that, Renji received a hard blow on his head leaving a bump.

"Hey what was that for?!", he nearly burst but restrain his annoyance, holding and feeling his bump.

"For calling me a child! Oh.. Renji, with your work you can live in a better life but instead you gave us all your earnings for the sake of our household. WHY ARE WE THIS POOR ANYWAY? WE'RE NOBLE. WE HAVE THIS STATUS! BUT WHYYYY?! I HAD ENOUGH! I HATE BEING POOR!"

"Rukia, Master adopted me few years ago. I've been decided that I will serve you both in all my life. I will stay. So Master and Rukia doesn't need to bother", he smiled.

"Renji…"

"DAMMIT! When I fix this part of the roof, the other part falls. ARE YOU MOCKING ME? I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!", Rukia grumbled while holding her hair with both hands in grief. The Ukitake Manor is huge mansion fitted for them of course. But when the time war against rebels is on-going, the Ukitake Manor served as an oasis for those who are injured. The war stayed for a couple of years, draining their fortune. For the sake of the people, the clan keeps tending. After the said war, the mansion becomes run-down. A large percent of their salaries goes to fixing their manor, bringing it back on its good shape.

Rukia looked at Renji with sparks in her eyes, "Where is that prick who has stolen our funds for our house?" Renji sweatdroped.

"Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto"

"w-w-wait.. he's… he's..", suddleny Rukia was out of words to say. Seriously?! One of the elders?

Renji opened the room followed by Rukia whose carrying a tray filled with teapot and cups, "Rukia-dono has arrived."

"Come, Rukia, Renji", He waved his hands smoothly giving the two to enter. His green eyes set at his children and smiled. This man is Ukitake Jushiro, the head of the Ukitake Clan. He was a tall man with long silky hair almost reaching his waist. Jushiro is well-respected and highly honorable man. He refuses to give up when he believes something is wrong and can break a rule just to do what is right. A perceptive man.

Rukia and Renji entered the room. Rukia placed the tray on the table and bowed down infront to Yamamoto to give respect. For being one of the elders, his old age, and I guess what she said about him a while ago.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting. I hope Yamamoto-taichou will forgive me", still keeping her head down.

"There's no need to fuss, Rukia-dono. Please rise", he held out his hand to help Rukia. Yamamoto is the oldest of the elders in Soul Society. As his title implies, he looked old with very long white beard and long eyebrows. There are a lot of scars that can be found on his head and torso, souvenirs of his battles in the past.

Rukia raised her head and stood up. She served the warm tea with buns filled with beans to the three gentlemen in the room. Rukia served sophisticatedly from Yamamoto, to her father and then Renji who were sitting parallel to Yamamoto. The elder observe the young Ukitake with keen eyes, "A true noblewoman. With her wit and grace I hope Rukia-dono melts the young emperor. His attitude as well as his barriers to people" he thought. After a while, Rukia seated beside his father and took a sip on her tea.

"Very well then, Rukia-dono, Renji-dono.. If you agree.." Yamamoto held out his wrinkled hand in front of them with eagerness.

"How much would that be"

"50"

"100"

"75"

"Wait its silver right? Bronze is too cheap for an elder to come this way and pay for this favor"

Rukia is swimming on her sea of thoughts when Yamamoto snapped her, "I will pay 500 gold!"

"G-g- gold", her both hands shivered. Did she hear that right? Gold? Gold? GOOOOLD?

"Rukia?", Jushiro looked at his daughter with concern.

"I WILL DO IT!", she nearly screamed in delight. "I would be able to fix this manor as well as serve exquisite food", After all, even though food is not a problem in Soul Society, higher ranks MUST eats luxurious foods. For them, eating that kind of food once a week is already bliss.

"Renji"

"Hai, Master Jushiro"

"I guess it's going to be tough on you again"

Renji sighed, "It's alright Master"

Soul Imperial Palace, with the emperor as its leader, A report regarding the Emperor of Soul Society,

Name: Kuchiki Byakuya

Family Background: Born into the Kuchiki Clan, grew up in Kuchiki Mansion and spent hours of traning. In the family, he is the second prince, the youngest. His brother was exiled many years ago. As the only prince left, he has no choice but to accept the crown.

Political interest: excellent

Work: excellent

Private life: rumored as the Ice Emperor.

Comments: Elders are presenting noblewomen that come from different parts of Soul Society so that the Kuchiki Clan must have their heir. But the young emperor rejected these 200 meetings. Till now he doesn't have a single concubine.

Rukia sighed in disbelief, "no wondered they are paying this much", she muttered in disgust. She looked lovely on her Uchikake, a highly formal white kimono with its silhouette layer of clothing embroidered with sakura petals linked by a thin branch. It covers the kimono and obi, sort of a coat and a large gold hair ornament that includes two sakura flowers placed on one side. She was drawing nonstop to ease her boredom.

"Even though I'm lured into this because of gold, can this emperor be saved?", She held out her masterpiece, It's Chappy that posed like a sentai warrior, admiring her work.

A/N: Sooo how was this chapter?

Okay okay, I used Yamamoto-taichou as one of the elders. Hey, he's pretty old for the title right? xDDD