alright ichiruki fans, this one is for you. it may not seem like it at first, but it is. and who's to say that rukia couldn't have had a crush on byakuya? there's nothing wrong with it as long as she doesn't act on it... and ningyo is a japanese mermaid that's kind of close to what we think of when we say mermaid.

My name is Rukia and I live in the prestigious High Ningyo Society with my sister and her husband. We are considered nobility and have lots of high privileges. My brother-in-law's family is part of the Kuchiki Clan that is under our king, Yamamoto and does his bidding whenever there is a task. There are many clans that do the bidding of King Yamamoto, but our clan does more than most. We have the records keeping part, the recruiting part (for our warriors) and we have the grounds keeping part… which is a little off the wall. Apparently, the Kuchiki Clan has the best gardeners under the sea.

When my sister, Hisana, married Byakuya, I was taken into the family as well because I didn't have anywhere else to go. When I was taken in, my sister and I had been training to be warriors at the academy. Byakuya was touring the academy for some diplomatic duty and Hisana was the one to show him around. He was so handsome, his long black hair flowing in the water and that muscular physique and that oddly beautiful pale pink tail! He was a dream and my sister fell hard for him. I was happy for her, because we had been through so much in our lives. Losing our parents, trying to get out of the muck, working hard to apply to the academy… getting with Byakuya was a dream come true for us.

The only problem I had was that for some reason, when I entered into the clan, I was sent to work in grounds keeping! Grounds keeping! I was studying to be a warrior! I don't know anything about sea anemones or kelp or corals… I tried to ask Hisana to change me to the recruiting part, but she said that it was Byakuya who determined the placement.

"Come on, Hisana, you can't let them keep me here forever! It's been three years and I'm still in grounds keeping. I don't like grounds keeping."

"I've talked with Byakuya on many occasions but he's too busy with his grandfather helping the king with the issue with the gangs that have been attacking."

"For three years?"

"You know what it was like to live in the lower levels and have the gangs come through there. They are terrifying and are swimming rampant through the kingdom. King Yamamoto needs Genrei and Byakuya, his best advisors, to help him come up with a plan to defeat the gangs."

"But about the Shihoin Clan? I mean, they seem to be better at tactics than we are…"

Hisana sighed as she looked over the jewelry in her jewelry box, acting as if she didn't know what to say.

"Rukia, I love you as my sister, but Byakuya is my husband and has a lot of things on his plate. I don't see him often due to all the meetings. But, I can assure you that I have mentioned it to him as many times as I can and I'm sure when all this is over, he will be able to take a more thorough look and decide something then."

I scoffed. "You just think I'm going to impress him more than you."

Hisana smiled but I could see the danger behind it.

"Why, dear sister, I find it pretty clear that he chose me instead of you. What you have in fighting skills are no match for what I have in looks and demeanor. You act like a merman while I act the way a mermaid should. So… beauty over brawn." She said, tapping my nose with each word.

I growled at her and swam away. Did I mention the fact that I had been in love with Byakuya too?

I decided to shirk my duties and go to the Big Gulp, a bar that served everyone. My friend, Rangiku, worked there and I usually explained my troubles to her while she worked. I didn't have that many friends because half of them stopped being my friend when I became part of the Kuchiki family or we just lost touch. Rangiku was probably my closest friend.

I swam through the door and Ranguki looked up, her long dark orange hair flowing about her as she smiled at me.

"Well, long time no see, Rukia."

"Sorry it's been a while. I've been trying to get Byakuya to get me out of stupid grounds keeping."

Rangiku frowned. "I thought you rectified that a while back?"

"No… Ugh, I swear I think Hisana is trying to keep me in instead of taking me out. Do you know what she said to me today?"

"What did she say?" Rangiku asked, leaning on the bar in interest.

"She proceeded to tell me that she got with Byakuya because he preferred her beauty over my brawn! I'm not that strong and sure I'm very good at kido, but I never tried to win Byakuya over!"

"I thought you told me you loved him?"

"I did but I could tell he loved Hisana more. I'm not going to force myself onto someone who doesn't want me. It was clear he loved her… and I haven't done anything since. She acts like I'm still trying to impress him. He's my brother now; that would be wrong."

"It doesn't stop everyone… Why don't you just ask Byakuya yourself instead of going through your sister? It seems to me like she's suspicious of you trying to take her husband and doesn't want you near him."

"It's been three years. You'd think if I was going to try and make moves on him, I would have… Besides, you remember how I am… I'm pretty obvious when I'm flirting, so she would have seen it."

"That may be true but I seriously think you should just have an audience with him yourself and voice your concerns. Is it that hard to get an audience with him?"

I thought for a moment. It was hard to get anywhere near him at the manor because he was either talking to someone or was at Hisana's side, where she hogged him. I guess I could meet him outside of the king's gate…

"I guess I can try…"

"Thatta girl!" Rangiku said, putting a cup on the bar. "Here, I'll even give you a swig of liquid courage to go along with that bravery."

She poured the drink and I drank the shot down. I could do this…

After about four hours of waiting, I was about to leave with the doors opened and the council spilled out. I saw Byakuya and swam quickly to catch up with him.

"Byakuya!"

He turned and waited for me as I swam over to him.

"What are you doing here, Rukia?" he asked with a small smile.

"I was waiting for you."

He frowned. "I hope not for long."

"Eh, four hours… I really needed to speak with you but you've been so busy it's like I never see you."

"Yes, we're having a hard time with the gangs… What is it you needed to speak with me about?"

"It's about my placement in the clan… why am I grounds keeping?"

Byakuya blinked slowly at me. "Hisana said you enjoyed the work."

I frowned. "I've been asking her ever since I was put in there if I could get out. I've been wanting to join the recruiting part since I got to the estate!"

"She never mentioned this to me."

I rolled my eyes. "To be honest, she thinks I am trying to steal you away from her."

"That's preposterous."

"Exactly. You're my brother."

Byakuya thought for a moment.

"I'll discuss this issue with my grandfather and see what we can do."

I brightened. "Really?!"

"I cannot guarantee miracles."

"Thank you so much!" I said, hugging him.

I immediately pushed myself back, forgetting he wasn't really a hugger.

"Sorry. I got excited."

"Shall we head home?"

I nodded and followed him back home.

A few more days went by and I felt a little less trapped as I planted some bioluminescent underwater moss. I was digging a hole for the next one when a tiny seahorse swam up to me and delivered a message to me from Byakuya. I nodded and went to find my brother in the manor. I found the door he was talking about and opened it, finding not only Byakuya, but Hisana, Genrei, and to my huge surprise, King Yamamoto. I immediately bowed.

"Your Majesty!"

"This must be young Rukia?" he said.

"Yes, this is Byakuya's sister-in-law. Please come in, Rukia. We must discuss something very important." Genrei said, smiling at me.

I swam in and shut the door behind me. I stayed in front of the group as Genrei turned to King Yamamoto.

"I think she'd be perfect for what we have planned."

"I think so too… Rukia, you are aware of the very serious gang problem we have here, right?"

"Yes, I hear about it often."

"The leader of the gangs and I have decided to try and make a truce between us. The only way we thought we could do that would to be aligning the who with a marriage." King Yamamoto explained.

I frowned. "And… what does that have to do with me?"

Genrei sipped some of his tea. "We have elected you to be our side of the bargain. He told us we could choose man or woman. You will be the representative of High Ningyo Society and they will pick someone from their side to join the parties together."

"Wait, so you're marrying me off?!" I yelled, angry.

"It is an alliance with the very people how have been causing problems as well as the dawn of a new era. By doing this, you will be doing High Ningyo Society as great service." King Yamamoto explained to me.

It didn't matter how many times they explained it, they are trying to marry me off like trying to get rid of the last seacow of the season.

"And who are they sending?"

"Their best warrior or something to that effect. He has not decided who he wants to choose. He will send a seahorse to tell me what he has responded and then you two will meet soon enough. They will have to come to High Ningyo Society, so be expecting a summons to my palace within the next few days." I nodded somberly as King Yamamoto touched my shoulder. "This is a great privilege, Rukia Kuchiki. We are relying heavily on you."

I smile but I can't be happy. I wanted to fight for my king, not give away from future entirely for him. This is not what I had in mind at all!

oh no! this is not how she wanted to serve her king! and i know this is sounding a little like NOBLE HEARTS but it's completely different, i'm telling you. and hisana's kind of a bitch, huh? i mean, yeah she was nice and all but who's to say she wasn't the jealous type? not enough known about her t complain...